Zoltán KODÁLY (1882-1967)
Dances of Galánta (1933) [15:05]
Háry János Suite (1926) [21:48]
Peacock Variations (1939) [24:37]
Dances of Marosszék (1930) [13:41]
Toni Koves (cimbalom)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Variations), Minneapolis Orchestra (János; Galánta),
Philharmonia Hungarica (Marosszék)/Antal Doráti
rec. Mercury 1956-59. ADD
ALTO ALC1394 [75:31]
What marks out these late ’fifties Kodály efforts by Doráti is his insistence on two qualities. These are instantly on show in the Galánta Dances. The dreamy ideas are done with tenderness and this is put up against the second quality, which is wild abandon. There is a danger with the tenderness as it opens the door to a softness of focus and it toys with sentimentality. Doráti keeps this aspect in check.
The Háry János Suite is in six merry and magical movements. Solo focus, when called for by Kodály, is superb, as in The Viennese Musical Clock. The solo viola in Song resounds with rosin-sticky resonance. This shows how much Kodály owed to Rimsky-Korsakov; not a parallel I had thought to draw before. Mercury did the stereo separation very well given that these were early days for the new technique: try the Allegro Vivace of the Galánta set. In the more relaxed dances Kodály’s sound touches on Prokofiev's Classical Symphony.
On the down-side, in the Peacock Variations, the strings have a less than supple and voluptuous tone but it is better than tolerable. The Variations’ Andante Poco Rubato is delightful and would work well with the same composer's Summer Evening. As for the Marosszék Dances, they may not be top-drawer Kodály, but they will raise a smile. They are the earliest work in this selection.
The orchestras are crack ensembles and play well to the strengths of the Mercury studio team. The sound is grippingly vivid throughout and this and the whole experience is enhanced by typically useful and alluringly readable notes by James Murray, an Alto regular. The experience is the better for Alto's decision to apply generous tracking to each of the four works.
Whether your anticipation is heightened by nostalgia or you have these works as first-time discoveries, these performances will reward. This super-budget price disc, nicely transferred from analogue sources dating from sixty years ago, opens the door to a very entertaining experience.
Rob Barnett
