This CD surely proves the old adage that “actions speak louder than words.” Reading the program booklet notes, one is assailed by shameless, patronizing praise for the Russian maestro, Yuri Temirkanov, claiming that he “laid Danish music at his feet as the new Principal Guest Conductor of the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.” So one puts on this disc expecting something akin to the Next Coming, or at least definitive performances of standard repertory. The truth in sound is that these are very ordinary performances, recorded in sound that is quite a bit less than state of the art. The Danish orchestra scarcely sounds world class, with some rough and ready woodwind playing that is less than exemplary. Nor do the musicians seem to breathe with their new conductor yet, resulting in a lot of imprecise entrances and unsteady rhythms. Moreover, Temirkanov’s interpretations themselves seem quite mundane, with little new light being shed on any of these chestnuts. The “Waltz of the Flowers” is the worst, being downright plodding, with no life or lift at all. Temirkanov is now associated as Music Director, or Principal Guest Conductor, or some other title, with four major orchestras. It seems to my mind that the greatest maestros in history are those who were closely associated with one orchestra. Food for thought?
