Splendid
David Saemann | 08/07/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Given Mariss Jansons's feeling for Sibelius, it is not surprising that he has similar affinities with the coloring of late Dvorak. This is an excellent disc. In the Seventh, the Oslo Philharmonic does not have the heft as such orchestras as the Concertgebouw under Davis, Berlin under Kubelik, and Philadelphia under Sawallisch. The Oslo strings, however, produce a beautiful dark tone, and their articulation is superb. Jansons's tempos in the Seventh are somewhat brisk but rather conventional. The wind and horn playing is especially beautiful. In the Eighth, Jansons lets out all the stops. Here the size of the orchestra's tone is less of an issue. The orchestra sounds beautifully prepared, and there is no shortage of momentum. This has to be one of the best available performances of the Eighth. EMI's sound engineering is quite good, with just a little murkiness that nevertheless does not detract from the sonorities Jansons nurtures. There are Dvorak 7s and 8s out there to suit every taste, but I don't think anyone purchasing this CD will be disappointed."