Dvořák’s Legends, ten in number, are full of delights – melodious, picturesque – exhibiting a wide range of expression, often soulful, certainly engaging and consistently memorable. Make of each one what you wish, for there are no titular anchors, just tempo markings, although there are musical suggestions of fairy-tales and other literary connections. What a tunesmith and colourist Dvořák was. Cristian Măcelaru has great affection for these gems – on a par with the Slavonic Dances – and he draws sensitive and shapely as well as detailed and dynamic playing from his Cologne-based ensemble for readings that can be spoken of in the same breath as Rafael Kubelík and Iván Fischer. The Czech Suite is also a charmer – gracious and fiery, full of variety, village scenes – a celebration of the composer’s homeland, its song and dance, its flora and fauna. With a pristine studio production (November 2020 & March 2021) this is a very recommendable release of pleasurable music. Moreish on Linn CKD 710.
RELEASED TODAY, September 2: Cristian Măcelaru & WDR Sinfonieorchester record Dvořák’s Legends and Czech Suite for Linn.
