Suk: Summer Tale Op. 29/Fantastic Scherzo Op. 25
Cross the openhearted geniality of Dvorák with the large scale and experimental fervor of Mahler and you have Josef Suk, a pupil of Dvorák whose life was changed forever when his wife (Dvorák's daughter) died young. The resulting anguish is where the Mahler element comes in. These works are not as filled with pain and grief as Suk's astonishingAsraelSymphony. In fact, the Scherzo is as happy as Dvorák's famousScherzo capriccioso. But the broad range and sheer size ofSummer Tale(about 50 minutes) are thoroughly Mahlerian, the music consistently involving and captivating. Mackerras, who studied under the great Czech conductor Vaclav Talich, is as completely attuned to Suk's idiom as the orchestra is, and the resulting performances, abetted by excellent sound, are real winners. Highly recommended, especially to lovers of late romanticism.--Leslie Gerber