Dvořák’s first four Symphonies remain in the shadows, which is a shame, especially numbers Three (a masterpiece) and the delightful No.4 (the Scherzo used as a BBCTV sig-tune years ago, Marius Goring in/as The Expert), while the proper Second (which used to be the Seventh’s identity) has strong claims to be heard more often. Jaime Martín, as have others (invariably as part of complete cycles, although there’s a Soviet Rozhdestvensky worth having), makes a case for No.2 as good listening, immediately so in the amorously awaking opening bars, Martín and the MSO in proud form to bring this underrated score to life, the opener with Wagnerian refrains, and phrases that might have appealed to Charles Ives as he looked to purloin European models to make them American-identifiable. The slow movement, while lovely, is rather lengthy, the longest movement here despite Jaime Martín’s well-judged tempo, and his observing the first-movement repeat to rightly enhance the Symphony’s ambitious dimensions. What riches inform the loveable large-scale Scherzo (with perhaps a passing reference to Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage), and the enjoyably quirky, earwormy Finale, both brought off with distinction, the (here) hour-long Symphony ending in a blaze of vindication. The Eighth (which used to be the Fourth) has stronger competition of course, not least two on Decca, Karajan/Vienna, and Dohnányi/Cleveland, and quite a few others (such as ‘late’ Ormandy on RCA Japan). Martín leads a virile and detailed account, living and breathing, assertive when needed, congenial at other times, yet with the Finale a little short of zip-a-dee-doo-dah, horn-trills subdued, and the reflective passage before the coda (less than electrifying) is rather static. However, not a bad return out of thirty-nine minutes. Good sound. MSO0004 [2 SACDs].
Jaime Martín & Melbourne Symphony Orchestra record Dvořák’s Second & Eighth Symphonies for MSO label.
