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Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 21-JUN-2005
CD Reviews
An unexpected gem
captain cuttle | Vancouver, Canada | 01/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This has been my record find of the past few years. I've been raised on the Ancerl, Neumann and Belohlavek versions, all fine performances dead centre in the Czech tradition with Czech orchestras. Czech recordings too, at Supraphon studios or Prague Castle, venues with long reverberation times that give a thrilling sheen to the strings, but tend to mush the inner voices. Bryden Thomson and the Scottish National playing Martinu? Bax for sure, but not Martinu. Nevertheless, when these cds reappeared on the Chandos mid-price label I took the plunge, and a great move that turned out to be. Thomson and his orchestra bring out the singing beauty of these works, the rhythmic vitality, but far more than that. Inner voices are clear for the first time in my experience, and Thomson has a far clearer grasp of the architecture of these works than any of his predecessors. I have the 4th Symphony in five different versions going back to Turnovsky, and although each performance offers one or two details that outshine the others, overall Thomson's is by fair margin the best. The recording is good, if a little over-bright, in the Chandos tradition. Too bad the British music press, who tend to go overboard in their support of domestic performers, were a touch lukewarm in their original assessment of these recordings. Perhaps even more than his Bax cycle, they are the jewels of Thomson's musical legacy."
Yes, you should buy this now.
Samuel Stephens | TN, USA | 06/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like most of you who plan on buying this set, I came to Martinu's music by reading about him. Talking can sometimes overstate (or understate) the case for a little-known composer. But thankfully in Martinu's case, there is absolutely nothing to disappoint.
The first symphony is lively, driving, and a tad stringent in the manner of Arthur Honegger's symphonies. The second symphony is a delight! It starts with a streaming flow of strings and woodwinds. There's a magical undercurrent of piano throughout. The following four symphonies are just as rewarding. The sixth symphony ("Fantaisies symphoniques") was originally to be titled "Une Nouvelle Symphonie Fantastique," because Martinu was inspired by the music of Berlioz. He later backed off the title, but there is no denying that this work is as fantastical as that of Berlioz.
These symphonies aren't long by Mahlerian or Brucknerian standards. They fit snugly within the 30-minute range. There is not a hint of pretension or grandstanding in the music. Martinu doesn't endeavor to imitate or outdo Beethoven, Brahms, or Mahler. He is his own voice. These works are fresh and accessible. I would suggest, however, turning up the volume for maximum enjoyment.
These performances bring out all the fantasy and excitement that these works need in an interpretation. Many thanks to Bryden Thomson's excellent vision and the Royal Scottish Nat'l Orchestra's superb playing."
Little known collection of symphonic gems
Wesley Duckett | Odessa, TX USA | 11/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959)is not so well known among lovers of Classical music. His oeuvre appears during the first third to the middle of the Twentieth Century, but, in this eminently listenable collection, is not troubled by the dissonance, atonality and bleak harshness that characterizes so much of the music of that era.
I have found all six of Martinu's symphonies to be immediately accessible from the very first hearing, refreshingly modern and thoroughly enjoyable. I can compare his style to bits of Copland, Hindemith and Bartok.
Bryden Thomson has provided a spirited, engaging and clearly affectionate reading of Martinu's six symphonies in this boxed set. I heartily recommend this set to any aficionado of serious music.
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Vital readings but not fully in tune with Martinu
Long-time listener | Wichita KS, USA | 05/14/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I'd like to offer a somewhat dissenting view of these recordings. While they have vitality and make the music clear and accessible, I feel they sometimes skate over the surface with overly brisk tempos and fail to reveal the more introspective qualities of Martinu's music as well as others do. I generally like Thompson as a conductor, but I feel this kind of brisk and extravert approach characterizes his Nielsen readings as well (his briskness works well in the dramatic 4th, but much less well in the more expansive movements of other symphonies). Claus Peter Flor's readings of Martinu's 1st and 2nd symphonies are wonderful, and to me Jarvi's set seems superior to this one. Neumann's does too, for that matter, though the sound quality is slightly dated."
Not Always Convincing But An Interesting Alternative Cycle
J. Rich | 07/14/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)
"It should be noted that the late Bryden Thomson should be commended for taking on Martinu's symphonies, which had very little exposure on record not unless you count Neumann's, Jarvi's, and Ancerl's recordings. There have been several cycles recorded: Thomson, Neumann, Jarvi, Fagen, and Belohlavek (who hasn't recorded Martinu's Symphony No. 2 yet for some reason). My favorite cyle is the Neumann not only for his grounding in Czech music, but also for fantastic playing from the Czech Philharmonic who know this music like the back of their hands.
I've heard many criticisms of Thomson's cycle and one of the most interesting and accurate that I've read, and experienced, is that Thomson over exaggerates a lot of the musical passages. Martinu's music is very rhapsodic and as another reviewer points out he underplays some of the more introspective qualities of the music. One particular disappointment for me was his reading of "Symphony No. 4," which lacked that Czech bite that we hear in Neumann's performance. The performance of "Symphony No. 1" is not entirely convincing either as he just blods along thinking that this symphony is again Romantic. Martinu was not a Romantic. If anything he was a Neo-Classicist with impressionistic leanings (he studied with Roussel in Paris), especially in the always inventive harmony he employed in his music.
The playing from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is quite good, but I feel that they were terribly misguided in this music, especially since Thomson shows no real affinity for Martinu's idiom. While I respect Thomson for taking a risk (as he has done with Nielsen) I can't help but feel that he should have stuck to what he excelled at: English music. 3 1/2 stars. I can't fully recommend this cycle for the afore mentioned reasons. If you purchase it, then be prepared to suppliment it with Neumann, Belohlavek, and Ancerl who offer more convincing accounts of Martinu's music."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1