Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi - Dvořák: Symphony No. 7, Golden Spinning Wheel (1987)

This disc, particularly well recorded in 1986, brings one of the best versions of the symphony coupled with an equally fine delivery of one of the finest for the late symphonic poems.

Symphonic is the key word here as this symphony is the most non-nationalist symphony in the Dvorak canon and is without much doubt the most purely symphonic creation as well as being the most tautly argued and dramatic of the nine symphonies. Jarvi's style of conducting these symphonies is to take a straight view and play them very much as Dvorak wrote them. There are therefore no undue changes of tempi, either slowing down to underline climaxes or speeding up to create artificial excitement. Those changes of tempo are always superficial and do little except cause dramatic damage. Dvorak was a better composer than that implies and absolutely knew how to craft his work without requiring conductors to make such adjustments.

As a result the climaxes really bite home here with utmost effect and surety having been well prepared with careful choices of underlying tempi. The awareness of a symphonic journey with a clear destination in mind cannot be missed. The orchestra, by this time in Jarvi's tenure as chief conductor, had a natural affinity with his conducting requirements and there is a palpable sense of excitement about the whole recording which suggests a 'live' performance.

Much the same sense of occasion is apparent throughout the Golden Spinning Wheel, another of the late and very dramatic settings of the dark Czech stories that Dvorak set with considerable impact towards the end of his composing life.

This is a superb disc, a real desert island choice if ever there was one, and I would therefore suggest that it makes an outstanding case for serious consideration as an individual purchase.