It could be a help or a hindrance to have an orchestra so steeped in particular repertoire that an outsider conductor either lets the musicians play what is in their blood or tries to inject a new approach that finds favour or opposition, such as performing Strauss Family selections with the Vienna Philharmonic. Of similar comparison is leading the Czech Philharmonic in the sixteen gems that are Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, an equal split between Opuses 46 & 72. Simon Rattle’s way with this collection is interesting (a euphemism) for only three Dances make the grade here: Opus 46/4, leisurely and affectionate; 72/4, brimming with nostalgia; and 72/8, tender. There of course other measures of delight, as well as curiosity, throughout the seventy minutes, with the doubts being more exposed, and while the Czech Phil plays with considerable aplomb, its response doesn’t come across as entirely convinced, let alone naturally idiomatic, although the playing is excellent if more dutiful than inspired. The first number (and signalling a constant) can be over-accented, and, in other examples, too much flow inevitably brings a tell-tale rallentando. The sentiment in slower pieces tends to be applied rather than instinctive; but what really irritates is the highlighting of cymbals and triangle (used extensively by the composer), which, given the recorded sound is first-class, presumably captures exactly what Rattle wanted in the orchestra’s home, Dvořák Hall in the Rudolfinum. I surrender! Plenty of alternatives, including, with this orchestra, Neumann and Šejna, and, further afield, Kubelík, Maazel, and Szell. The moral is: don’t interfere too much with the hemiolas (or maybe that should be bohemiolas – I owe a friend for that one), especially when in Prague. Pentatone PTC 5187 414.
Simon Rattle’s Czech Philharmonic recording of Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances for Pentatone.
