Antonín Dvořák; Leoš Janáček - Symphony No. 8; Jenůfa Suite (Manfred Honeck)

Information

Composer: Antonín Dvořák; Leoš Janáček

1. Dvořák - Symphony No. 8 in E minor, Op. 88: I. Allegro con brio
2. Dvořák - Symphony No. 8 in E minor, Op. 88: II. Adagio
3. Dvořák - Symphony No. 8 in E minor, Op. 88: III. Allegretto grazioso
4. Dvořák - Symphony No. 8 in E minor, Op. 88: IV. Allegro ma non troppo
5. Janáček - Symphonic Suite from Jenůfa (conceptualized by Manfred Honeck, realized by Tomás Ille)

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck, conductor

Date: 2014
Label: Reference Recording
https://referencerecordings.com/recording/dvorak-janacek-pittsburgh-symphony-honeck/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

Manfred Honeck’s handling of the Eighth Symphony’s opening phrases is rapturously beautiful, the cellos truly espressivo, the initial bird-like entry of the flute played, as Honeck himself anticipates in his own booklet-note, ‘quite flexibly’. When the lusty string theme arrives at 1'23", Honeck encourages his cellos to play out so that the theme’s five note ‘tail’, which is soon repeated, is given musically valid prominence. The main body of the movement has at its centre hammering chords, beyond which Honeck cues a dramatic rallentando. The coda too is extremely malleable: listen from 9'05", to the sudden speeding, the prominent horns, then the way the brakes slam down before the music scampers off again in top gear.

The Adagio is similarly rich in drama: take the alternation of legato woodwinds and fierce strings near the beginning, or (from 7'10"), the deathly transition where, beyond the clarinets’ exit, a mere wisp of string tone cues ominous horns and fearful tremolandos. The outer sections of the Allegretto grazioso are brisk, tripping and graced with subtle portamentos that sound entirely natural (unlike the glutinous slides favoured by some of Honeck’s less tasteful rivals). Of particular note is the relatively relaxed Trio, and the lively coda with its cheeky quick glissando. The finale alternates tender poetry with wild dance rhythms, those trilling horns that so often cower behind the rest of the orchestra brought boldly to the fore, the symphony’s closing moments deliriously exciting.

The Symphonic Suite from Janáček’s Jenůfa, ‘conceptualised by Honeck, realised by Tomáš Ille’, approximately follows the drift of the opera’s plot, incorporating along the way wildly extrovert dance music, meditative episodes of rare beauty (cue from 3'48"), a storm and a conciliatory ending. Again Honeck’s interpretation is rich in imagination and the playing of the Pittsburgh Symphony scales the heights. Having recently lost Claudio Abbado and Lorin Maazel, and with all due respect to a whole host of fine conductors currently performing, I would say that Manfred Honeck is one of the few remaining masters of the rostrum whose CDs – and there are all too few of them – are events to cherish.

-- Rob Cowan, Gramophone

More reviews:
ClassicsToday  ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2014/Aug14/Dvorak_sy8_FR710.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2014/Sep14/Dvorak_sy8_FR710.htm
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/r/ref00710a.php
https://www.audaud.com/dvorak-symphony-no-8-in-g-janacek-sym-suite-from-jenufa-pittsburgh-sym-orch-manfred-honeck-fresh-reference-recordings/
https://www.allmusic.com/album/dvor%C3%A1k-symphony-no-8-jan%C3%A1cek-symphonic-suite-from-jenufa-mw0002667705
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dvorak-Janacek-Symphonies-Reference-Recordings/dp/B00K7VL7MC
https://www.amazon.com/Dvorak-Symphony-Janacek-Jenufa-Suite/dp/B00K7VL7MC

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Antonín Dvořák (September 8, 1841 – May 1, 1904) was a Czech composer. He was the second Czech composer to achieve worldwide recognition, after Bedřich Smetana. Following Smetana's nationalist example, many of Dvořák's works show the influence of Czech folk music, such as his  two sets of Slavonic Dances, the Symphonic Variations, and the overwhelming majority of his songs. Dvořák wrote in a variety of forms: nine symphonies, ten operas, three concertos, several symphonic poems, serenades for string orchestra and wind ensemble, more than 40 works of chamber music, and piano music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton%C3%ADn_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k

***

Leoš Janáček (3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and other Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Much of Janáček's work displays great originality and individuality. Janáček belongs to a wave of twentieth-century composers who sought greater realism and greater connection with everyday life, combined with a more all-encompassing use of musical resources. Janáček is considered one of the most important Czech composers, along with Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo%C5%A1_Jan%C3%A1%C4%8Dek

***

Manfred Honeck (born 17 September 1958, in Nenzing) is an Austrian conductor. His brothers is the Vienna Philharmonic leader Rainer Honeck. He attended the Academy of Music in Vienna, and then became a musician in the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. Honeck was Music Director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (2000-2006) and Generalmusikdirektor of the Staatsoper Stuttgart (2007-2011). Honeck is the ninth music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (since 2008). He and the PSO have recorded for  Octavia (Exton) label and Reference Recordings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manfred_Honeck

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!