A small landslide of Martinů recordings marks the fact that
2009 is the fiftieth anniversary of Martinů’s death.
This issue is part of that phenomenon. The present recordings
have stood yeoman service since the late 1980s and continue to
do so.
This First Symphony is notable for its pliant yet sinewy textures
lit by the glinting piano. The woodwind sing out delightfully
in Järvi's ‘take’ on Symphony No. 2 (00.41;
I). In last movement there is a wonderful sense of release, joy
and liberation. The Fourth - my favourite of the Six - flows
more stiltedly than the vintage 1960s Turnovsky (Apex) or the
Neumann (Supraphon). However in the buoyant exuberance of the
finale Järvi conveys an onrushing flood-tide of expressive
power.
BIS's Bamberg sound is powerful yet with woodwind voices projecting
optimistic character. The orchestra’s strings do not radiate
the last word in luxury though neither are they in any way unyielding.
The liner notes comprising four solid pages are from the
original
BIS discs and are by Stig Jacobsson.
The format is another one of those four-leaf fold-out card cases
with a leaf for each of the three discs and another to hold the
booklet. It’s essentially the same physical design as the
one Brilliant uses for the Rachmaninov songs first recorded by
Chandos.
The
BIS
box was quite a bargain; this one even more so. It’s
the least expensive way of getting to grips with all six symphonies
though you should watch out for special offers on the
Chandos-Thomson set
as well. Thomson is good.
Neumann and
Valek - both on Supraphon - are also worth watching out for although
the former is from the 1970s and the latter has had some very
discouraging reviews. No Martinů collection would be complete
without also having the Turnovsky 1960s recording of the Fourth
Symphony on
Warner
Apex - it’s
that good.
Rob Barnett
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme
Järvi 
