With this 2016 hybrid SACD, Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Houston Symphony continue their project to record Antonín Dvorák's last four symphonies for PentaTone, and these exceptional live recordings of the Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70 and the Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88 provide a brilliant showcase for their abilities. Dvorák composed the Seventh in 1885 and the Eighth in 1889, at a time when he received generous support from Johannes Brahms; yet while the symphonies' formal structures and some of their ...
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With this 2016 hybrid SACD, Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Houston Symphony continue their project to record Antonín Dvorák's last four symphonies for PentaTone, and these exceptional live recordings of the Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70 and the Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88 provide a brilliant showcase for their abilities. Dvorák composed the Seventh in 1885 and the Eighth in 1889, at a time when he received generous support from Johannes Brahms; yet while the symphonies' formal structures and some of their developmental procedures reflect Brahms' conservative influence, Dvorák's Slavic-flavored melodies, transparent orchestration, and more expansive feeling set him apart from his mentor. Orozco-Estrada's interpretations are passionate and highly expressive, and the Houston Symphony's playing is fully engaged and vigorous, so the drama and lyricism of the music fully come across. The multichannel reproduction captures the orchestra with great presence, and virtually every note can be heard, so...
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