Neeme Järvi’s accomplished account of Dvorák’s perennially delightful Slavonic Dances came as a very pleasant surprise when first issued (can it really have been 15 years ago already?). The playing of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra features perky winds, gutsy brass, and warmer than usual strings, while Järvi sets nary a foot wrong, tempo-wise. Still, there are better versions available. In the more boisterous dances (such as the opening and closing numbers of Op. 46 or Op. 72 No. 7), the cavernous recording tends to obscure string detail, and at times there’s a touch of rhythmic heaviness (Op. 72 No. 5) that a firmer hand from the podium should have corrected. One minor point: Järvi replaces the glockenspiel in the very last dance with a tubular chime; Dvorák’s original is better–brighter, and thus more charming. With such strong competition coming from Mackerras (Supraphon), Sejna (Supraphon), and Kubelik (DG Originals), it’s hard to recommend this as a first choice, good though it generally is. Still, if you find yourself owning it, there’s much to enjoy.
