Search - Nikolai Miaskovsky, Robert Stankovsky, Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra :: Miaskovsky: Symphony No.6

Good first CD version, but eclipsed by Kondrashin

07/28/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Stankovsky's Slovak taping was the first CD issued of this marvellous work. Whilst the performance is quite dedicated, it simply doesn't have the drive and passion of the 1959 version recorded in Moscow by the late Kiril Kondrashin. The latter must, despite moderate sound, be the yardstick. Stankovsky does however bring some individuality to the second movement in particular and the quality of the playing is generally good, if hardly in the luxury class. The recording is similarly acceptable but somewhat close and rough-edged compared with the best. Ultimately, the disk lacks something in atmosphere compared with Kondrashin or Veronika Dudurova's more idiosyncratic reading."