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Review by beardawgs May 5, 2005 (9 of 9 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
Yet another terrific recording for Telarc by Polyhymnia made in January 2003 in Watford town hall. The soundstage is broad, dynamics wide and orchestral perspective transparent and natural (in MC). Opening bars representing Gates of Hell are the showcase of naturally sounding brass, with plenty of air producing focused, well rounded and mellow sound. As the piece goes on, same can be said for each and every orchestral group, with the short final chorus and soprano soloist placed well behind, giving the finale appropriate ‘heavenly’ feel.
As the Liszt’s musical representation of Dante’s imagery develops, conductor Botstein concentrates on detail, mostly restraining his interpretation on producing fascinating orchestral colours and allowing plenty of time and space for fantastic LSO players to shade every note and phrase in a different way. That approach, however superficially appealing, didn’t come without a price of losing some of the narrative qualities, and IMO the symphony has lost some of its musical unity. “Tasso, Lamento e Triomfo” treated similarly, with closing brass outbursts in strong textural contrast with opening soft woodwinds and sweet strings.
On a completely personal note, have to say here that I don’t regard Liszt as a great orchestral composer, and my interest in his symphonic output is limited to Dante and Faust symphonies. This performance is satisfactory and married with one of the best naturally sounding surround recordings it is my clear first choice. If we could only get Faust symphony as well from the same forces and in the same venue with Polyhymnia’s miking...
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