Paavo Järvi’s
collaboration with the Cincinnati Symphony
Orchestra started in September 2001
and this is their fourth CD together.
The critical reception of their recordings
has so far been mixed; the all-Stravinsky
disc was described in one review "Memorable
Stravinsky performances coupled with
demonstration sound" while on our
own pages, Colin Clarke found that an
inability to enter into Berlioz’s world
made a disc containing the Symphonie
fantastique hard to recommend.
This CD tips the balance
to the positive side. The programme
is well planned, fully representing
Ravel’s orchestral moods from the melancholy
calm of the Pavane to the sinister
fantasy of La Valse. The recording
is admirably clear with a three-dimensional
space in which the instruments are ideally
balanced. This is particularly well
illustrated in the Bolero where
the percussion always has a good relationship
with the rest of the orchestra. The
bass drum, weighty but clear, deserves
a special mention.
The second suite from
Daphnis et Chloé is beautifully
realised. Regardless of the ballet’s
programme, of the classical narrative
or even how Ravel visualised the mythological
landscape, this is some of the most
beguilingly delicate music for large
forces ever composed. An innocent ear,
knowing nothing of programme or provenance,
might be at an advantage.
In the Bolero,
the solos are poised and idiomatic without
exaggerated effects. The piece marches
on crisply and mechanically in the best
Ravel manner. Throughout the CD, Järvi
adheres scrupulously to Ravel’s principle
of non-interventionist interpretation
and does so with excellent results.
La Valse particularly benefits
from letting the music speak for itself;
Järvi plays the Viennese waltz
episodes straight, albeit with nicely
authentic inflection, creating the sinister
effect from the combination of the innocent
dance form with harmonic and rhythmic
distortions.
Ma Mère l’Oye
and Pavane pour une infante défunte
both benefit from the simple approach
to create the required delicate atmosphere
of poignant innocence. Järvi finds
just the right pace for the Pavane;
Ravel’s frequent complaint about excessively
slow tempi is not answerable here.
These are wonderful
performances to which I will be returning
frequently.
Roger Blackburn
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi