Search - Dvorak :: Dvorák: Symphony No. 6; Vodnik, Op. 107 [Hybrid SACD]

A goodish acocunt that has its moments but lacks passion

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 09/25/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The arrival of SACD surround sound has been a boon to second-tier orchestras and conductors. Because their recordings are being snapped up by audiophiles, the quality of the music-making is secondary. A case in point is this pleasant Dvorak Sym. #6. It won the mystery lottery at The Gramophone, getting picked out among dozens of equally average recordings as a pick of te month. I can't see why.



The first movement is straightforward but a bit underpowered (a lot underpowered if your standard is the Vienna Phil. under Myung-Whun Chung on DG). The lyrical slow movement is sensitively done (it's the best thing here) but reveals the Nethrlands Phil. as just average. The Scherzo veers back to the middle of the road, where Kreizberg obviously feels comfortable, and dances politely when it should whirl madly. The conductor ignores the Allegro con spirito marking for the finale and gives us a comfy, competent run through.



If I had heard this recording on Naxos I would have been more pleased. The two-channel sound that I was listening to is fine. The filler is a good reading of Dvorak's late, appealing tone poem, The Water Goblin."