Josef SUK (1874-1935)
Asrael - Symphony in C minor, Op. 27 (1905) [60:01]
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
rec. live, Rudolfinum, Prague, 5-6 April 2007.
SUPRAPHON SU 4043-2 [60:01]
I was always intrigued by the potential of Suk conducted by Mackerras
(1925-2010). There were fewer discs in which this conductor
championed Suk than he did Janacek or Dvorak. The present one,
issued posthumously, was presumably not intended. We should not
forget a number of Suk discs he made by design, as it were: A Summer's
Tale/ and Fantastic Scherzo (Decca 4666 443-2) and Fantasy (Decca
460 316-2) each with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
As for this project it seems to have been touched with gold
from the outset. There are a few minor imprecisions of ensemble
but these are the usual artefacts of a live concert event. In
fact Mackerras’s Asrael – or this one - is revelatory. He makes
it sound quite voluptuously Straussian for such a gaunt work
especially in the first movement. He is great at the ambitious
sweep and gusty mercurial moods borne along by tempo changes.
It's a work that has been extensively recorded. Suffice to say
that of all the many great recordings, the ones I would direct
you to hear are the Talich mono and this one by Mackerras. My
colleague Brian Wilson mentions that the work has never quite
taken hold of him (my words). This Mackerras is the one I would
ask him to try. These things are so subjective but Mackerras
and Supraphon have done a superb job. This conductor has a very
satisfying grip on the Mahlerian gait and breath-control of
the piece. He does magnificent things with it as listening to
the profoundly moving Adagio shows. This movement even reminded
at times of the Korngold symphony from some forty years later.
Applause closes the disc.
For all that this is a concert event the stereo spatial effects
are very well arrived at – listen to the eldritch almost Mendelssohnian
flight of the Vivace.
The recording is unglamorous but satisfying. This is unlike
the analogue Decca recordings I had just been experiencing when
listening to Ansermet’s legacy Debussy on Newton. Certainly,
if you listen to the portentous drums in the finale, there is
no softening of life's buffets and nor any sweetening of its
desperate tragedy. If this had been written after the
Great War we would hardly have been surprised. It could easily
serve as a requiem symphony for the trodden down generations.
The notes are by Petr Kadlec who clearly identifies with Mackerras
and his Czech legacy. It's a very poignant and informative note.
Mackerras delivers a profoundly moving and completely engaging
Asrael superbly recorded - the best modern version.
Rob Barnett
The best modern version.