Antonín DVORAK (1841-1904)
Serenade in E, B52.
Hugo WOLF (1860-1903) Italian
Serenade.
Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Divertimento,
Sz113.
Saito Kinen Orchestra/Seiji
Ozawa.
Philips 462 594-2 [DDD]
[61'20]
Crotchet
AmazonUK
AmazonUS
The Saito Kinen Orchestra is clearly a good, well-drilled ensemble that has
these works fully within its grasp - but without, unfortunately, that extra
dash of character that would make this delightful trio of works a mood-uplifting
experience.
This is, indeed, a lovely programme. Dvorák has his collar unbuttoned
for his Serenade, B52 of May 1875. As far as this performance is concerned,
the opening maestoso exemplifies the Japanese problem. It is very
exact and very correct but needs more elegance and charm. Both the second
and fourth movements (Tempo di valse and Larghetto respectively) are
allowed to breathe more, but transportation to the Bohemian pastures remains
a partially-completed journey. Even the ending is on the harsh and perfunctory
side. All very well-drilled, but not the heart-felt experience it should
be.
Wolf's Italian Serenade acts as a jolly enough interlude (the sun
is metaphorically beginning to break through the clouds) before Bartók's
Divertimento emerges as the best of the disc. The contrast between
solo and tutti sections is felt well, the Molto adagio is appropriately ghostly
and the finale is sprightly and full of life (and possessed of real weight
when necessary).
The recording is more than acceptable, but despite the enjoyable account
of the Bartók and the intelligent programming, it is difficult to
justify the full-price cost for this disc.
Colin Clarke
