‘Not another recording of the New World Symphony’ I hear you cry while surveying the 50+ versions of this symphony available in high res. audio, not to mention the countless versions on CD from some of the greatest conductors and orchestras over the past century. But do not be too hasty in dismissing this version of Dvorak’s most popular work nor the other pieces on what turns out to be a most engagingly executed and excitingly recorded SACD.

Before considering the audio aspect of this recording, captured in TACET’s proprietary ‘Real Surround Sound’ we should naturally assess the quality of the performances by Concerto Budapest and András Keller their Artistic Director and Chief Conductor.

The liner notes tell us that ‘Concerto Budapest is one of the most progressive and versatile symphonic orchestras based in Budapest, Hungary. It has a rich more than 100 years of history, and as a result of the current artistic leadership, it is full of dynamism from its young musicians, whose playing is characterised by the passion, energy and commitment they give to their performances of repertoire ranging from well-loved masterpieces to newly composed works of the 21st-century’. Purely on the basis of this recording I would wholeheartedly endorse this assessment.

Keller’s tempi in all of the work’s four movements of the symphony seem eminently well chosen. He eschews both the extremes of the high speed athleticism of say, Ivan Fischer (Channel Classics) and, at the other end of the spectrum, the more ponderous somewhat mannered reading from Andrés Orozco-Estrada (Pentatone).

From the hushed pp opening of the first movement the conductor’s attention to detail is immediately apparent and as the movement unfolds one is struck by the freshness of the orchestral playing especially from the nimble winds and confident brass. As is de rigueur these days Keller makes the exposition repeat. The cor anglais solo of the famous Largo is delivered with an unassuming simplicity, but though the orchestra’s full personnel of 85 musicians is listed in the liner notes, oddly, there is no mention of a cor anglais nor its player. The scherzo is crisp and direct while the finale is full of drive and vigour. Some may miss the effortless delivery and subtle nuances provided by some of the greatest orchestras in this work, but the enthusiasm of Concerto Budapest more than compensates for these.

Two of Dvorak’s short compositions for cello and orchestra provide a relaxing interlude after the thrilling conclusion of the symphony. Klid (Silent Woods) was originally the fifth part of a cycle for piano four-hands entitled 'From the Bohemian Forest’ Op. 68. Written in 1883 it was re-worked, first for cello and piano and then later the version for cello and orchestra heard here. The Rondo in G minor Op 94, published in 1893 was composed in order to showcase the formidable talents of Dvorak’s friend, cellist Hanuš Wihan for whom he would eventually compose his celebrated Cello Concerto. Both of these short, lyrical and enchanting pieces are given poised and somewhat introspective accounts by the veteran Hungarian cellist Miklós Perényi.

Finally the orchestra lets its hair down with lively and idiomatic accounts of three of Dvorak’s Slavonic dances from the Op. 46 set (nos. 5, 6 and 8) that bring this programme to a rousing conclusion.

TACET’s approach to recording is one that uses the whole acoustic space for the musical experience. It does so by placing the listener at the centre of the performance in a way that is is both unique and for many controversial. The liner notes include diagrams of the orchestral layout for the various works, so listeners can check the positions of the instruments in relation to what they are hearing. Those willing to embrace this approach and who are in possession of a well balanced surround system will be rewarded from this 5.1 channel SACD with an unrivalled sense of involvement with the music that cannot be achieved from stereo alone. To be fair TACET also provide stereo versions (SACD and CD) on this hybrid disc that should satisfy the unconvinced. The recordings were expertly engineered by Andreas Spreer in an unspecified venue in Budapest (2018).

Warmly recommended especially for those adventurous souls willing to dip their toes into ‘Real Surround Sound’.

Copyright © 2019 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

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