Search - Karol Szymanowski, Vassily Sinaisky, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra :: Szymanowski: Symphony no. 2; Symphony No. 4 (Symphonie concertante)

A great new no. 2

E. Weed | Houston, TX | 01/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I became infatuated with Szymanowski's Sym. No. 2 some 20 years ago with Dorati's superb rendition with the Detroit Symphony. Dorati nailed it--terrific forward motion (not always Dorati's strength), sharp articulation, clarity of architecture--all of which pay dividends in this wonderfully structured yet passionate piece. But the sound was "early digital," which became more obvious and irritating as CD players (and the rest of my system) improved over the years. I eventually began looking for a good replacement version. I thought Botstein on Telarc was a bit off--the phrasing seemed dull after Dorati. But this Sinaisky is very fine, and a great introduction to a wonderful piece, if you haven't heard it. The harmonic language is very Straussian, but the music is much more oriented towards motivic development and counterpoint--in fact, it ends with a deliciously Viennese waltz/fugue (like the other Strauss, gone nuts) that is a real kick. The Chandos sound is a bit homogenized, perhaps, but in the main, quite satisfying--certainly better than Dorati (though I won't be throwing my Dorati away--in the end, his version is more gripping and sensuous, "digititis" notwithstanding).



For the Sym No. 2, I'd buy the disc alone, but the Sym No. 4 is an intriguing piece. I can't honestly say I know it as well as No. 2, and it seems harder to know; more diffuse, sometimes as if it can't decide whether it's a piano concerto or a symphony. The tonal language is more advanced; according to some, Szymanowski had acquired more of his own voice by then, though I still hear Strauss, with some Scriabin and Bartok thrown in.



If you find that you like this disc, I strongly recommend searching out the violin concertos, with their more exotic harmonies and mysterious flavor."