Dvorak - Symphony No.9 "From the New World"; My Home Overture

Antonin DVORAK (1841-1904)

Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World'

My Home Overture, Op. 62

Scottish National Orchestra

Neeme Järvi

Recorded in the SNO Centre, Glasgow in August 1986

Neeme Järvi's work in the music of Dvořák has been well documented, if not especially available over the years. In particular, his complete symphony cycle from the 1980's has never been particularly easy to acquire. First released on nine-full priced discs, it was then put in a box set to little fanfare. To make matters worse, Chandos never priced the box to compete with more "classic" cycles, and then promptly dropped all of the shorter works. Thus, I suggest finding the individual discs that appeal to you.

The "New World" receives a very solid reading that does nothing to displace the great readings of the past. More recently, his son Paavo has given us a staggeringly recorded version in Cincinnati, with an unusually valuable coupling to boot. Still, this is a fine performance. Järvi the elder really did wonderful things with the Scottish National Orchestra. The playing is very good, the sound quite natural. It lacks only the distinct touches of the great Czech ensembles and conductors. That said, if this disc fell out of the sky, there would be little reason not to enjoy and cherish it.

What makes this disc more valuable is a colorfully exciting reading of My Home. Check out that assertive brass section and you'll see why Järvi's underrated Mahler was a success, too. The same vigor and sparkle that the conductor brought to his Slavonic Dances is present here. Chandos has always seemed to like the composer's overtures, and why not? They are uniformly delightful. A fine finish.