Fantaisies symphoniques, Fresques, Juliette.

Bohuslav Martinu

Fantaisies symphoniques, Fresques, Juliette

Symphony Orchestra St. Gallen, Jiri Kout. Production: Christian Leins. Text: Ger., Eng. Recorded 6/2003 a 3/2004. Released: 2004. TT: 63:17. DDD. 1 CD BMG Classics 82876 57740 2 (Sony BMG).

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The album contains three pieces that are among the most beautiful written by Martinu. The 6th Symphony is generally considered an extraordinary achievement, the Frescos of Pierro della Francesca are in the same, Neo-impressionist vein, and the three-part suite recalling some key orchestral passages from Julietta (in the arrangement by Zbynek Vostrak) apploaches his late symphonies and equals them in intensity of beauty. The pieces are extremely demanding for performers, however, since they depend on convincing overlaps of colour, and complete integration of the major passages and small nuances of expression. Jiri Kout with his orchestra from the Swiss town of St. Gallen is astounding in these respects. You might think that orchestras from outside major cities have a right to certain limitations, but here the playing is in the first league. If there are any slight problems to be heard, these are merely the comparative smallness of the orchestra and of the hall itself (compared to recordings of Martinu from the Rudolfinum). Given the mode of play, however, these are ultimately of no importance, and the result can be considered truly impressive. Here we can feel intense concentration, devotion to the works and composer, empathy and the composer's emotional sensitivity and engagement. The frescoes are a little brighter and more colourful, while the Symphonic Fantasias start very darkly, slow and wistfully. They also end in a superb, slow descent towards silence. It is a score that has many dramatic moments, and at both poles of expression the orchestra plays smoothly, with rich vibrato. Here the music of Martinu has all that it needs, and emerges with its typical colour and pulse, here a cello, there an oboe ... Even if the orchestra has no very distinctive reputation, it is clear that the conductor is an inspiration and the players giving their best.