Classical Editor: Rob Barnett


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ANTONIN DVORÁK Slavonic Dances (selection of 13 of the 16) Op. 46 1-4 6-8 ;Op. 72 1-2 5-8Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Douglas Bostock rec March 1995 TRING TRPO74 [62:15]

 


Crotchet




This is both a triumph and a missed opportunity. Here we have liltingly charming, elegantly shaped and rowdily convulsive performances valuable and rewarding in their own right. The Tring series is at super-bargain price. And yet look at the playing time. What on earth possessed the company to stop with thirteen of the sixteen dances? Quite unaccountable. There was plenty of space for the other two slavonic dances and even, at a pinch, one of the rhapsodies.

As for the successful and utterly natural and idiomatic performances from Bostock and a British orchestra we should not be surprised as Bostock has spent much of his career in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The notes (by Brendan Beales) are sensible and useful. Regrettably there are two pages of utterly forgettable and unnecessary blurb about the orchestra; that however is a uniform feature of the series. Fine music making at super-bargain price but what a missed opportunity. Star-marked in light of the missed opportunity but don't let this discourage you from tapping into some of the most natural music-making available in excellent sound.

Reviewer

Rob Barnett

Reviewer

Rob Barnett

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