The last few months have been good for me and Dvořák Seven – Leonard Slatkin’s rewarding conducting of it has repaid several revisits (video below), as has finally tracking down Eugene Ormandy’s RCA recording which made it to Japan – marvellous Philadelphia performance in every respect (as is the coupled Eighth) – and now lucky-3/7 this splendid Bernard Haitink account from March 1981, music that featured early-on in the Dutchman’s discography (long enough ago for No.7 to be labelled as No.2). With the BRSO, an esteemed Dvořák ensemble thanks to Rafael Kubelík, Haitink leads an absorbing intensely moulded, keenly accented yet flowing account, woodwind-rich in detail, violins antiphonal, basses left, that is as soulful as it is fiery, even at times demonic. It stands for me alongside Mehta (Israel/Decca, my intro to this great work), Neumann (three recordings, all Czech Phil) and Rowicki, as well as others of course. While he was in Munich Haitink also made a studio version of the Opus 66 Scherzo capriccioso, buoyant, pointed and airily textured, the only minor disappointment being that Haitink passes over the repeat of the poignant Trio section. This is a quality over quantity (forty-nine minutes) release, and given it comes from Bavarian Radio the sound is excellent. BR Klassik 900223.
BR Klassik releases Bernard Haitink conducting Dvořák’s Symphony No.7 & Scherzo capriccioso; Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
