Search - Ladislav Slovak :: Moyzes: Symphonies Nos. 1 And 2

Chance Taken Was Rewarded

Gregory V Charlton | Miramar, Florida USA | 12/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Occasionally we find ourselves taking chances in our search for unfamiliar symphonic material, primarily because for the first time in history hitherto unknown music is being so plenti fully recorded. For me, Alexander Moyzes was a total unknown, not even a whisper of recollection surfacing from past foraging into the Middle European repertoire. In the case of his first two symphonies, as essayed by the Slovak Radio Symphony of Bratislava under Ladislav Slovak, I found myself rewarded for taking the chance: well-crafted, fully listenable symphonies, immediately accessible and instantly enjoyable; filled with melodic lines boldly set forth and developed in a polished manner, yet without any pretension to ornate gilt or faked frills unless one concludes there is a tendency to bombast by failing to "wind down" more effectively in the Second Symphony. The First Symphony is perhaps the more likeable of the two, primarily because the pleasing font of melody seems more inspired than in the Second, which though no less well developed has less memorable content. Neither of these works strikes me as deriva tive, and though remaining quite comfortably within the well- defined boundaries of the period, does not need to apologize for that. There is plenty of originality here, of an unassuming sort; and more importantly, plenty to enjoy."

Danceable and No Problems

Charles Voogd | Underwaterland | 11/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I continue my short exploration of Middle European music - see Novák - by hoping you'll buy these 2 first symphonies by the Slovak composer Alexander Moyzes. Let's hope Marco Polo finds time to record more of the other 10 because this compelling, danceable, problem free music is perhaps what you're looking for in wintertime.All right, not even these symphonies are altogether without problems (how to stop for instance), and sometimes the grainy recording-quality is raw and not very detailed but the music wins on points and the musicians on enthusiasm.It's good to hear Slovak players playing Slovak music because this orchestra can let you down on music which is not in their souls (they've done lesser things for Marco Polo and Naxos); so here they're on home-ground."