250 SACD / Antonín Dvořák: Symphony no. 9 in E minor and other works
Description
Klar, bei der 9. Sinfonie von Antonín Dvořák geht die Post ab, auch in dieser Aufnahme. Aber das ist ja wohl nicht alles! Die Streicher von András Keller können blühen wie Blumen auf der Wiese. Sie spielen nicht gleichförmig, sondern in einer wie angeborenen Natürlichkeit, als wäre es eine Kleinigkeit, dass 14 erste Geigen so homogen klingen und gleichzeitig so individuell wie eine einzelne. Auch bei den Bläsern zählt nicht die Hochleistung oder der Zeigefinger („Schaut her, so ist das gemeint“), sondern die Empfindsamkeit und das Strömen der Musik, z. B. im Englischhornsolo des langsamen Satzes. Das Blech: keine Kraftmeierei, sondern satte oder auch zarte, immer einfühlsame Akkorde. – Die Tempi, die Übergänge, alles fließt organisch und lädt zum Mitgehen ein. Das ist die hohe Kunst des Legato, die manchem als altmodisch galt, in Wirklichkeit aber zeitlos schön ist. Eins der Vorbilder von András Keller heißt, wen wunderts, Wilhelm Furtwängler. Genau in dieser Haltung, bar jeglichen Imponiergehabens entführt uns anschließend der von vielen geliebte Cellist Miklós Perényi behutsam in die geheimnisvolle Zauberwelt des Rondo op. 68/5 und der Waldesstille op. 95. Drei slawische Tänze aus op. 46 runden das Programm ab.
5 reviews for 250 SACD / Antonín Dvořák: Symphony no. 9 in E minor and other works
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BBC Music Magazine –
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Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra. Explore the brave, unique sound of this progressive and productive symphonic orchestra with more than 100 years of history, based in Budapest, Hungary
Fono Forum 10-2019 –
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There are enough recordings of Dvorák's "New World" Symphony, yet occasionally recordings come along that shed new light on this evergreen, at least in details. Perhaps this requires a different perspective, like András Keller, a violinist by training and as such founder of the string quartet named after him. But in the meantime he also conducts the Concerto Budapest. After Bruckner 9, now comes Dvorák 9, and again we must pay tribute to the high musicality of this recording. Keller rejects all symphonic uniformity from the slow introduction on. Chamber music is the motto. This means: sharpening the sense for subtleties, working out nuances, maintaining the balance. Thus, even in the songful second movement, there is a signature of its own, with which the orchestra makes Dvorák's score glow inwardly. Thus the third movement does not rumble, it prances. Again and again there are brief dialogue situations between instruments and instrumental groups and unexpected narrative scenes, marked by precise rhythms, by sudden interpolations or long sustaining arches. Even the beginning of the final movement is given its own momentum, and even the powerful main theme has something light about it.
The program is supplemented by two works with solo cello - Waldesstille and Rondo op. 94 (with the very intimately acting Miklós Perényi) - as well as three Slavonic Dances from op. 46. Here, too, it bounces (very often) light and easy, arios and free of ballast. The recording convinces with individuality in the approach and consistency in the development. Recording-wise, the SACD matches this level.
Christoph Vratz
Audio 09/2019 –
Sharpened contrasts, chamber-musical brightening, finely graduated dynamics: András Keller, primarius of the Keller Quartet, presents the "Symphony from the New World" in new facets. Already at the beginning of the first movement unusual colors blossom. Keller takes the Largo really slowly, without sentimental dragging, otherwise he goes deeply into detail, especially rhythmically, even at tightened tempos. Still, nothing ever falls apart in this strong interpretation; he keeps the flow, but never flattens nuances. This is a Dvorák for concentrated enjoyment. The sometimes elegiac, then again groovy encores come at the right time. Soundwise, the stereo track of the hybrid SACD is of the very best, the mixing in "Tacet Real Surround Sound" has an almost mind-expanding effect - for example with strings from behind.
Lothar Brandt
Journal Frankfurt 08/2019 –
The Tacet label has long since made a name for itself among lovers of audiophile recordings with its exquisite Sourround SACDs. (...) Since conductor András Keller also makes a real thriller out of this thoroughly visually stunning symphony, the album is clearly one of the best of the year!
cru
Pizzicato –
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This is a so-called Real Surround recording, and if the listener uses a surround system, he has the impression to sit among the musicians.
The orchestra Concerto Budapest has a history dating back to 1907, but took its current name only in 2009, two years after the violinist and conductor Andras Keller took over as musical director. In the Ninth Symphony’s first movement, we note exciting contrasts, with very slow, almost floating parts and powerful, almost harsh reactions, as well as a lively, extremely detailed and well-balanced music-making. The very slowly played Largo radiates a lot of warmth and is full of feeling without becoming sentimental-sweet.
A wonderful orchestral transparency, a lot of momentum and strong accents bring the two last movements to life, whereby the surround sound experience allows the listener to hear details from the woodwinds, which one normally does not notice.
With the excellent Miklos Perenyi as soloist, Waldesruhe and Rondo are warm and lyrically expressive. The CD ends with three lively and very colourful Slavonic Dances.
Guy Engels