Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
Symphony no 7 in C major (Leningrad) op 60
Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Eduardo
Mata
Recorded in the Eugene McDermott Hall, Dallas, in May 1991
DORIAN DOR-90161
[77:54]
Crotchet
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Mata's Dallas performance begins well enough with a sunny account of the
opening C major theme but when we reach the celebrated (or, to some, notorious)
march my doubts grew rapidly. The playing is solid and the orchestral balance
fine, but Mata fails to screw up the tension as the march reaches its climax
(the music merely gets louder) and the climax is ruined by the most
poisonous-sounding tam-tam I've ever heard. The final moments are entirely
lacking in magic (the side-drum should be barely audible). In fact, lack
of atmosphere is a fault almost throughout (there are some pleasing exceptions
in the finale). The 'furioso' episode in the slow movement is marred by
uningratiating brass tone and that wretched tam-tam also makes a further
unwelcome appearance. Mata paces the finale well until we reach the closing
bars, which are taken so slowly that one wonders if the piece is ever going
to end.
In any case, setting aside interpretative matters, I have to say that the
quality of the sound is far from ideal - dull and 'boxy', it is either noisy
but rarely brilliant, or quiet but rarely tender.
Not recommended.
Adrian Smith
