Dvorak - Symphony No.5; The Water Goblin

Antonin DVORAK (1841-1904)

Symphony No.5 in F Major, Op.76

The Water Goblin, Op.107

Scottish National Orchestra

Neeme Jarvi

This very well recorded disc from 1987 offers strikingly fresh and refreshing views of both works. The symphony in particular benefits from this approach as it is so reminiscent of the Bohemian background against which it was written. The symphonic poem is one of the composers last works, post symphonies, and tells the grim tale of a nasty goblin and his activities.

The fifth symphony is one of the very sunniest of Dvorak's symphonies and was the first one which also demonstrated his total mastery of the idiom and also of his taste in orchestration. Throughout the hint of the folk dance element is implicit and it is significant that when Dvorak revised it before publication some years after writing it, he made next to no changes.

Jarvi, as with the other symphonies in the series, adopts a very straightforward approach to the work with no interference with basic tempi and no attempt to underline details for special effect. This is the correct way to play the music as the music is well able to sing without undue help by emphasising elements. It makes the recording by Jansons seem over-worked and lacking in essential spontaneity by comparison for example. It also has markedly more buoyancy than Kubelik with the BPO and takes a lighter view than the more dramatic but effectively straightforward version by Kertesz and the LSO.

The Water Goblin is one of a series of symphonic poems illustrating the generally grim subject matter of the ballades written by poet Karl Erben and admired by Dvorak. As with all these poems the story ends badly and, as with the other symphonic poems, Dvorak is able to portray the story vividly. Once more Jarvi takes a straight view and is effective, although it is certainly arguable that the tougher approach by Kertsz is even more effective on this occasion.

This is a symphony that I got to know some 50 years ago from the inside as a player and have always had a warm spot for it. I would suggest that of all the recordings that I have heard since, this one by Jarvi stands out as especially good and well worth considering

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