Mostly Plusses but One Big Minus
J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 03/01/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First, to get the minus out of the way (because the plusses are more interesting and more extensive) it must be said that the violins of La Chambre philharmonique, a fairly newly-formed original instruments ensemble, are just a bit scrappy and even occasionally have some intonational problems particularly noticeable in the more dramatic portions of the 'Reformation' Symphony. But the overall impression one gets from these performances is that of lightness, delicacy, rhythmic near-perfection, rightly judged tempi and dynamics and an unquenchable joie de vivre. Emmanuel Krivine, the founder and director of this ensemble, is a much under-valued conductor primarily plying his art in the French musical scene. He was a prodigy violinist who was, beginning in the 1960s, mentored as a conductor by the redoubtable Karl Böhm. He leads an exceptionally beautiful performance of the 'Italian'. Was there ever a symphony with a more joyous beginning than the 'Italian', with those buoyant wind triplets burbling and chirruping away while the rest of the orchestra plays that vaunting, heart-leaping melody? Krivine and his group do this as well as anyone I've ever heard, and although I am not automatically one who would opt for original instruments in a work this late in the 19th century, it seems particularly apt here. Indeed, the transparency one gets from chamber-sized instrumentation and the light tonal qualities of the early instruments lend themselves to an invigorating effect. This same quality, however, becomes a bit overtaxed at times in the 'Reformation' although in its lighter moments, as in its second movement, it works very well. The andante third movement and the finale based on 'Ein' feste Berg ist unser Gott' come down a little light for their inherent gravity.
Thus I must give a somewhat mixed review to this release. This is a wonderful 'Italian', one I will reach for again and again, and a somewhat disappointing 'Reformation.'
Recorded sound is, like the instrumentation, transparent and true. I've been generally very pleased with the sound of the Naïve releases I've heard.
Scott Morrison"
