BaL 7.05.16 - Martinu: Symphony no. 6

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 a.m., 7th May 2016
Building a Library: Jonathan Swain recommends a recording of Bohuslav Martinu's Symphony No. 6 from among available versions. Writer's block wasn't usually a problem for Martinu and once he'd got the bug for them, symphonies were no exception. But his sixth (and last), begun in 1951, took over two years to complete. Like much of his music, what Martinu called his 'Fantaisies symphoniques' is rarely heard in the concert hall. For some it's an elusive and often gloomy work, which never seems to get going. For others it reveals the heartrending hankerings of exile, Martinu's Czech homeland made tragically unattainable, first by war and then the Iron Curtain. And although Martinu confessed to a programme behind the music, he teasingly wouldn't tell anyone what it was.

Available versions:

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jirí Belohlávek
Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Fagen
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Neumann
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Valek

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

That was easy!

[Pulcinella]

That was easy!

Should be time for decent excerpts from each recording, then!

I have RSNO/Thomson and BBCSO/Belohlavek but also one presumably no longer readily available (though link provided below): Boston Symphony/Munch, recorded 1956. The symphony was composed (seemingly not specifically by commission) for the 75th anniversary of the BSO and premièred by Munch in January 1955. The recording is in the Munch 2CD set in the Great Conductors of the 20th Century series.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Conductors-Century-Charles-Munch/dp/B00006IGIO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1461917337&sr=1-1&keywords=Munch+great+conductor

[CallMePaul]

With only 9 available recordings there should be no need for prerselection and we ought to be able to hear the merits and drawbacks of each of them. I have the Neumann on LP but have not heard it for some time; I hope I will be able to hear the full BAL as I will be setting off for Turkey that morning! No one of the list opf recordings stands out in my mind so I will listen as attentively as other commitments (and my partner!) allow.

[Alison]

I can sometimes think of the BBCSO as a good multipurpose orchestra but under Belohlavek they strike me as the Martinu ensemble par excellence. They simply make a wonderful noise in this recording.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I can sometimes think of the BBCSO as a good multipurpose orchestra but under Belohlavek they strike me as the Martinu ensemble par excellence. They simply make a wonderful noise in this recording.

[Serial_Apologist]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the extra colourful orchestration of this work (by the usual Martinu standards) might have had something to do with taking an acid trip?

[Richard Barrett]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the extra colourful orchestration of this work (by the usual Martinu standards) might have had something to do with taking an acid trip?

I wouldn't regard it as having extra colourful orchestration actually, there are some pretty weird things in all his symphonies - try the finale of no.3 for example. Being a Martinu fan I have more than half of the recordings in the list. My choice would probably be the BBCSO with Bělohlávek, but I got to know the piece through the Munch recording mentioned by Pulcinella, which I still like a lot, and before the Bělohlávek recording came out I would probably have gone for Järvi.

[umslopogaas]

I have the Belohlavek version on CD. On LP I have two. One is a mono version by Ancerl and the Czech PO (Supraphon LPV 416); since it is dated 1961 it could also have been issued in stereo, does anyone know if the Ancerl version on the list is this one, or a later one? I also have a stereo LP version on Unicorn (RHS 309) by the New Philharmonia conducted by Michael Bialoguski; I know nothing about this conductor, and I presume it was never transferred to CD. The Belohlavek version seems well regarded, so I dont think I'll be in the market for another.

[makropulos]

I'm with the enthusiasts for Charles Munch's Boston recording. It's a great shame this isn't readily available as of all the versions I've heard it's the one that works best for me. But failing that, I'd be happy to settle for Ančerl from the available options. Incidentally, that was recorded in February 1956 and as far as I know it's only in mono (but the whole of that disc - Vol. 34 of the Ančerl Gold edition - is well worth having). Of the others, I've had at various times - and discarded - Neumann and both Bělohlávek recordings. Despite their far better sound, the performances struck me as comparatively routine, I'm afraid.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Of the others, I've had at various times - and discarded - Neumann and both Bělohlávek recordings. Despite their far better sound, the performances struck me as comparatively routine, I'm afraid.

.
Ah, fascinating, makra. I had the "opposite" experience - I tried to get into Martinu's sound world for decades without any joy - then the Belohlavek performances were broadcast ... and instantly I was hooked! His recordings of the complete Symphonies are treasured in my collection - this BaL will be an opportunity for me to explore other recordings.

[HighlandDougie]

Definitely not to be added to the list - as it appeared then disappeared with some rapidity - is a live Charles Munch/Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra performance from the 1967 Prague Spring Festival. For those with deep pockets only, alas:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prague-Spring-Festival-1947-1968-Bohuslav-Martinu/dp/B000C17RM6?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

[Pulcinella]

Correction to post #3 (better than editing and adding a PS).
It was commissioned for the BSO's 75th anniversary, but the first movement had been written before and laid aside.
There's an interesting essay on the work in Michael Steinberg's book The Symphony; Steinberg was one of Martinu's 'students' at Princeton.

[Richard Barrett]

Of the others, I've had at various times - and discarded - Neumann and both Bělohlávek recordings. Despite their far better sound, the performances struck me as comparatively routine, I'm afraid.

That will send me back to listen again. I would be interested in what you thought of Järvi...

[jayne lee wilson]

Something of an obsession for me, I've got at least 7 Martinu 6ths, most of them in complete cycles... some time since I revisited, but anyway (terms & conditions subject to variation)...

Munch/BSO - surely the Great Swain will bring this into the mix, he's too good a reviewer not to. The Japanese BMG release***, vol.40 in the Munch edition (c/w Piston 6th, Menotti Vn. Cto), has the sort of how-on-earth-did-they-do-that SQ which leaves you marvelling at its 4/1956 recording date. Remarkable even to audiophiles familiar with Japanese wonders... surely the Grande Reference of Fantaisies.

As for Neumann, a coupla problems here. First, the European 1980s Supraphon issues often suffer from too dry a sound balance. I recall sending back a single Supraphon issue (I think there've been a few...) of the Martinu 6th, and then revelling in the Supraphon Mastersonics Japan remaster** of the complete 1977-78 cycle from Prague. Which reveals the 6th as a stunning performance indeed, in a huge & vivid acoustic. BUT there is a second Neumann recording from 5/84, coupled with No.3 - far less inspired or recommendable, on Denon (and who knows, elsewhere...).

Too long since I heard them, but I recall Behlolavek taking a more lyrical, less overtly visionary view of it with the BBCSO. Fine cycle, if not so revelatory for me (Barbican never helps your plaisir du son...). His earlier Czech Phil recording (I think there may be two of these as well *) is one of the few I don't have.
I was always a huge admire of Bryden Thompson's RSNO set (shattering dynamics on the 2005 Chandos remaster - poor old ears), but I can't recall enough of No.6 specifically now. Jarvi was my first 6th and Martinu cycle - soon disappointed with it, as so often with Neeme the Elder. (Keener on younger Jarvis...)..

I'll try to come back on this with links...
here they are, prices - OK, considering...

(**Japanese Mastersonics Neumann Cycle:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000A0H3X2/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

(***BMG Japan Munch 6th:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Sym-Piston-Lt/dp/B000K2QL1A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1461959719&sr=8-2&key

- quite a bargain, and the "RCA Records" shiny cherry-red CD label is even prettier than the booklet.)

(*Chandos 1990, c/w Janacek Sinfonietta etc; Supraphon 2009 c/w No.5. Time to hit the Gramophone archive...)