Dvorak: Symphony No 6; Nocturne; Scherzo Capriccioso

Baltimore SO/Marin Alsop Naxos 8.570995 ***

Dvorak wrote his Sixth Symphony in 1880, at a time when he had come under the sway of Brahms, and the connections between Dvorak's Sixth and Brahms's Second are pretty obvious. Marin Alsop seems to take those connections a little further than most. Although the Sixth is regarded as Dvorak's sunniest symphony (and Brahms's Second has been dubbed his Pastoral), Alsop likes the tension of melodic lines pressing on each other in ways that at times emulate Brahms in heavy mode. The effect can be enriching and illuminating. But the result is also a frequent darkening of the mood of the music. The bullish brio of the style is applied in the same way to bring unusual perspectives to the Scherzo capriccioso. See url.ie/57c6