Fanfare Reviews
from May/June 1986

Reviews: Dvořák

DVOŘÁK: Serenade in E for Strings, Op. 22. Serenade in D minor for Two Oboes, Two Clarinets, Two Bassoons, Three Horns, Cello, and Double Bass, Op. 44. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 415 364-2 (compact disc), produced by Steven Paul.

DVOŘÁK: Serenade in E for Strings, Op. 22. Serenade in D minor for Two Oboes, Two Clarinets, Two Bassoons, Three Horns, Cello, and Double Bass, Op. 44. Chamber Orchestra of Europe conducted by Alexander Schneider. MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY MHS 7171 (digital), produced by John Boyden, $7.95 ($9.95 to nonmembers).

Last time I noted that Angel Eminence's reissue of Dvořák's two serenades was one of only two versions of that coupling currently available, and--voilà! Not only has DG brought out the promised disc featuring the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, but Musical Heritage has also released a similar coupling with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. What's more, each of these unusual ensembles gives persuasive accounts of both pieces.

The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, whose membership is drawn from 12 different countries, has no permanent conductor, but it works with many prominent guests, including Alexander Schneider, who conducted both this album and their previous one for MHS devoted to Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart. Orpheus has no conductor and performs without one. In a corner of civilization that is usually thought best governed by enlightened despots (they would probably prefer to be called philosopher kings) Orpheus is a remarkable experiment in democracy. Not only are the details of interpretation worked out by consensus, but the players also move about between numbers so that no chair belongs to any individual (at least that's the way it works in the string sections). Yet the results, as on the present disc, are thoroughly satisfying. Execution is precise, and, what's more, the music comes across with great vitality and sensitivity.

Both Orpheus and Schneider manage to play the String Serenade without excessive sentimentalizing. Schneider is affectionate but not cloying. Orpheus, especially, matches Marriner in brilliance, but with more warmth. Neither Schneider nor Orpheus subscribes to the gloom-and-doom interpretation of the miraculous Wind Serenade. Schneider's version brims with life, fairly swinging into the Finale. Orpheus does a better job with the poignant Andante con moto, and confirms my positive recollection of their live performance by producing one of the best Wind Serenades available. Both discs are well recorded, though DG's compact disc makes a greater impact.

These two splendid recordings have helped to heighten my regard for the String Serenade and brought fresh viewpoints to the Wind Serenade. My preference would be for Orpheus, but both of them are real delights.

George Chien

Copyright © 1986 by Fanfare, Inc. Reprinted by permission from Volume 9, No. 5 (May/June 1986), pages 136-137.  This article reviews an LP version of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe performances on ASV COE 801.

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