Fritz
Reiner’s lithe interpretation of Antonin
Dvorák's Ninth Symphony ‘From
the New World’ still stands
the test of time and remains one of
the finest conducted and played accounts
of this popular and over played score
in the current catalogue.
Played
on my NAD CD player through a NAD amplifier
with BOSE speakers, I found this RCA
‘Living Stereo’ Super Audio CD reissue
sounded flat, etiolated and lack lustre
when compared to the original 1995 BMG
Classics CD issue (CD: 09026-62587-2)
which had far greater body, dynamic
range and depth. However, people hear
things differently and some may prefer
a more smooth, superficially shiny and
homogenised sound that the SACD offers.
This SACD may sound better when played
on a SACD player.
Reiner’s
incisively cut, flawless diamond Dvorák's
‘New World’ is a paradigm performance
that always remains astonishingly fresh
and shining even after repeated listening.
The Allegro molto is broadly
measured with perfectly etched and pointed
timpani and brass whilst the Largo
is beautifully phrased and played but
without ever sounding sentimental or
sluggishly slow as can be the case with
lesser conductors; the cor anglais solo
was poignantly is exquisitely played.
The Scherzo has an appropriate
rawness of texture yet without sounding
congested and heavy with CSO horns,
timpani and triangle having a cutting
edge with Reiner coaxing buoyant rhythms
and a delicate lilting grace.
Reiner’s
quick tempi throughout the Allegro
con fuoco make absolute sense and
bring out the urgent forward driving
thrust of the music. The rapid closing
punctuating trombones and timpani have
great intensity and a punctuating bite
and again perfectly judged: too often
conductors slow down in the closing
passages of this score to milk pathos
and applause. Reiner’s quicker tempi
is the right – and the most powerful
– way to end this over played – and
often badly conducted - work. This is
the most outstanding ‘New World’
available.
Reiner
brought out the most delicate orchestral
nuances of Antonin Dvorák's Carnival
Overture and avoiding making the
work sound brash and bashed out as is
often the case with this popular show
stopper. The CSO play with great virtuosity
yet without ever sounding superficially
flashy or showing off with excess brilliance
for virtuoso’s sake: it was almost like
a chamber-like interpretation such is
the sensitivity and intimacy of the
playing.
Likewise
Bedřich Smetana’s The
Bartered Bride Overture
is given an urgent, brisk and breezy
interpretation with the translucent
CSO strings producing feather light
playing and Reiner conducting with the
an appropriate urgent incisiveness and
jaunty swagger.
Jaromír Weinberger’s Polka
and Fugue, from Schwanda the
Bagpiper, is a grotesquely embarrassing
work but – like Toscanini – Reiner is
able to make a third rate score sound
first rate and the CSO play it with
great panache and aplomb.
If
you only had to have one version of
Dvorák's ‘New World’ Symphony
I would highly recommend this superlatively
played and conducted account by Reiner
and the CSO. Despite by criticisms of
this SACD transfer the sound is still
acceptable but it is worth you trying
to purchase a copy of the1995 BMG Classics
issue (CD: 09026-62587-2) which is far
warmer with a wider dynamic range.
Alex Russell
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner 
RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SUPER AUDIO CD 82876
66376 2 [64.09] 
