Andrew Palmer, Group Editor

Classical Music: Dvořák Symphonies 5 & 6

Dvořák: Symphonies 5 & 6

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Jaime Martín

https://www.mso.com.au/

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's new recording of Dvořák's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies offers a welcome departure from the well-trodden path of his final three symphonic masterworks.

Under the assured direction of Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, this first instalment in their complete Dvořák cycle presents these less frequently performed works with compelling freshness and authority.

The album's artwork, featuring the iconic Twelve Apostles of Victoria's Great Ocean Road, sets the scene for a recording made in Melbourne's Hamer Hall in 2023. It's an apt visual metaphor for a program that begins with Symphony No. 5, itself a musical portrait of landscape – in this case, Dvořák's beloved Czech homeland. The orchestra captures the work's charm with glowing warmth, bringing out both its natural beauty and quirky character through carefully crafted phrasing.

The coupling with Symphony No. 6 proves inspired. Here, Dvořák's voice emerges more fully formed, synthesising Brahmsian grandeur and Wagnerian harmony with the composer's characteristic Bohemian folk influences. Martín draws majestic, sweeping performances from his forces, culminating in a radiant finale.

Throughout both works, the MSO responds to Martín's direction with impressive rhythmic vitality and attention to detail. His interpretation reveals careful consideration of every dynamic shift, with beautifully judged crescendos and diminuendos that never tip into excess.

The orchestra's woodwind section deserves special mention, particularly in the Sixth Symphony's eloquent Adagio and the spirited Scherzo (Furiant), where the horn section also shines.

Martín, who traces his own connection to Dvořák back to childhood encounters with his father's LP of the New World Symphony, brings both scholarly understanding and personal affection to these performances. His measured control and thoughtful interpretations suggest this cycle will be one to watch.
The recorded sound is excellent, allowing the orchestra's natural blend and tonal richness to emerge unimpeded.

If this release is any indication, the MSO's complete Dvořák cycle promises to be a significant addition to the catalogue, offering fresh perspectives on these less familiar symphonic landscapes.