Leon Botstein’s kinder, gentler Dante Symphony lacks the vital element of passion it needs for a successful performance. Yes, this is one of Liszt’s most vulgar scores, and if you’re going to do it, you might as well play it for all it’s worth. In this reading the first movement’s powerful opening is rendered inert both by strangely restrained trombones (listen to how they snarl for López-Cobos) and by muted percussion. Botstein’s softened rhythms and rounded accents produce precious little tension, not to mention menace. As for the ensuing hell storm, let’s just say that no one will have much to fear in the tepid environment Botstein creates. The conductor’s velvet glove approach works much better in the first movement’s tranquil center, where Botstein draws some wonderful caressing sounds from the London Symphony strings. But the movement’s dramatic close sounds just as underpowered as the beginning–nothing like the fury whipped up by Barenboim in his searing Berlin Philharmonic account.
The Purgatorio movement plays more to Botstein’s strengths as he creates a serene atmosphere through his artful handling of Liszt’s delicate orchestral tapestry (the use of a boys choir in the closing Magnificat is quite effective). However, a quick listen to Barenboim’s or López-Cobos’ recordings reveals the yearning just beneath the music’s tranquil surface that’s missing in Botstein’s rendition. This performance includes Liszt’s garish alternate ending, which, in the tradition of Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony (and much later, Prokofiev’s Seventh), tacks on pomposity where sublimity had been doing just fine. (If you’d rather avoid this, be certain to stop your CD player at 22:07.)
Tasso, which requires less physical urgency than the symphony, comes off better, particularly the celebratory ending. Nevertheless, the disc’s most compelling factors are Telarc’s immediate, clear sound, wide dynamic range, and impressive depth. But unless your primary interest in this music is for its audiophile potential, you’re much better off with one of the recommended alternatives.
