Tuesday 22 November 2011

IRR raves Dvořák 9 Serebrier

"Outstanding, should rank with the finest", says Robert Maxwell-Walker in the International Record Review of the new Dvořák Symphony no 9 From the New World by José Serebrier and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. ".... the wood wind, so fresh and intensely musical are the phrases and characterisation both of the principals and as a unit. It is as though they have just discovered the music: there is nothing tired or thoughtlessly predictable about this performance, all the way through – it is deeply impressive, such as to reinforce one’s faith in the classical record business. The conductor’s tempos and internal orchestral balance are flawless. Nor are these musical qualities confined to the performance of the Symphony; the Slavonic Dances which open and close the disc are fresh and lively and intensely musical ; the Czech Suite, likewise, is not ‘run-through’ in any superficial manner; these artists’ individual and corporate respect for all the music here is uplifting to a degree."

I'm thrilled.  Please read my review HERE. Serebrier brings such freshness to this performance, I think, because he cares deeply about the music and the concepts behind it. As a young boy in Uruguay he discovered the music of America and formed the first South American youth orchestra in order to get it performed. At 17, he went to study in the US and was mentored by Stokowski. Serebrier assisted Stokowski on the first recording of Charles Ives's Symphony no 4 and later conducted it with the LSO. What I like about Serebrier us that he doesn't follow received wisdom but thinks - and feels - for himself.  A true original !

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