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	Macal Conducts Gliére: Symphony No. 2 & Red Poppy Suite Reinhold Gliere, Zdenek Macal, ... Delos Records, 1996 average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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This CD features a top-notch performance of the familiar suite from Gliere's ballet, best known for its "Russian Sailors' Dance." This music is really delightful and very memorable. There are some similarities to the ballet music of Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936), who was Gliere's contemporary and compatriot for many years.

While Glazunov eventually left the Soviet Union for Paris (where he died in 1936), Gliere remained in his homeland and remained popular with both the public and the Soviet government. It is known that Josef Stalin preferred romanticism, especially the piano music of Chopin, as he told President Harry Truman. Although Gliere lived until 1956, he stayed away from the more modern trends of Prokofiev and Shostakovich, thus avoiding the public attacks such composers received from the Soviet government in 1948.

Gliere's second symphony is rarely performed or recorded. Indeed, this was the first recording I ever heard of the work and I immediately liked it. The performance is outstanding and manages to capture the dramatic intensity of this epic work.

The recordings benefit from superb technological advances, including Dolby surround sound, which give the works greater clarity and intensity. This is a very fine CD, performed by an orchestra that continues to build an imposing reputation.

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A recording for the ages

Every now and then there comes a recording with that special something, an elusive quality perhaps, which marks it as a recording for the ages. This recording of Gliere's second symphony by Zdenek Macal and the New Jersey Symphony orchestra seems, to me at least, to be one of those recordings.

Reinhold Gliere's most well-known and widely recorded piece is his ballet The Red Poppy (actually, to be more precise, the Russian Sailor's Dance from it). He also composed three symphonies, the last of which was also widely performed for a time. While the first symphony is essentially a student work, both the 2nd and 3rd symphonies (premiering in 1908 and 1911, respectively) are mature works, melding his main influence of classical Russian themes with a little early impressionism (though he certainly does not tend towards the shorter works for which the impressionists generally favoured -- the complete recording by Harold Farberman of the 3rd symphony is about 100 minutes in length!!).

In the 2nd symphony, Gliere follows a more or less classical style, key themes with systematic development. The work has an impressively Russian feel; there is no mistaking the composer's nationality. From the tension and rhythmic drive established in the opening bars you are at once aware of that elusive quality, that presence of greatness, I mentioned above. The orchestra maintains its passion and focus throughout, responding to Macal's visionary reading with exemplary playing. The result is an exhilarating listen. The fillers are, not unexpectedly, a selection of pieces from The Red Poppy mentioned above (and yes, including the Russian Sailor's Dance). Good though they may be, for me, they are secondary to this great performance of the 2nd symphony.

Early in his career, while chief conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra, Macal won several conducting competitions, marking him as one to watch. He left Prague following the crushing of the Prague Spring uprising in 1968. Though he was to return in 2003 as the chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, in the interim he was to hold two decade-long positions as music director, first with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and then the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with which he made this recording. As opposed to his successor in the New Jersey post, Neeme Jarvi, Macal has not been a prolific visitor to the recording studio. Though he has made several other successful recordings -- perhaps most notably, a well-received recording of Smetana's Ma Vlast -- this recording is probably (in my opinion, it is by far) his best effort.

In great sound -- a "Delos virtual reality recording" -- this disk is a great affirmation of both Macal's talent as a conductor and the quality of Gliere's 2nd symphony. To be honest, I feel I've hardly done this recording full justice; it really is fantastic. Most highly recommended.

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GLITTERING GLIERE

A virtually underplayed Russian orchestral gem by Gliere (1875-1956), who is also a virtually underplayed Russian composer. And difficult to imagine why. I mean, the man did compose more than "The Red Poppy Suite." Maybe not a full garden, but more than enough "flowers" to go around. Gliere's symphonies form the cornerstones of his output. Rather like some triad monument. And, until recently, the only truly "popular" work was No. 3 ("Il'ya Murometz").

To these ears, his Symphony No. 2 in C Minor is the best of the three, the most beautiful and lush, filled with what we would all recognize as "Russian soul." Far more inventive, melodic, and captivating than its successor, and with not an ounce of bombast, it is sweeping in its scope, running some forty-six minutes.

And, yes, it is coupled with the perennial "Red Poppy Suite." Sigh.

However, Delos has given us a very beautiful CD here--- with a recording technique they tout as "virtual reality." Indeed. I agree. It is thrilling, exceptionally "present," warm, yet finely detailed and vivid. Macal conducts the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with gusto, and they respond in kind. A joy to hear.

If the coupling suits you--- and I cast no aspersions toward the "Poppy Suite"... it's done very, very well--- then you have a real winner here.

[Running time: 72:50]

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Tracks
Symphony No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 25: Allegro Pesante | Symphony No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 25: Allegro Giocoso | Symphony No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 25: Andante con Variazioni | Symphony No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 25: Allegro Vivace | The Red Poppy Ballet Suite, Op. 70: Heroic Coolie Dance | The Red Poppy Ballet Suite, Op. 70: Scene and Dance | The Red Poppy Ballet Suite, Op. 70: Chinese Dance | The Red Poppy Ballet Suite, Op. 70: Phoenix | The Red Poppy Ballet Suite, Op. 70: Valse | The Red Poppy Ballet Suite, Op. 70: Russian Sailors' Dance

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