Naxos invested in five volumes of Fibich's orchestral music. To make them look extra attractive, Naxos eschewed their traditional white cover for a full picture spread, and indeed it is tantalizing visually.
I did not purchase the whole set though, and in retrospect, I am glad. The Czech National Symphony Orchestra sounds wheedly and unkempt here, even though most of it is generally well played.
The strings suffer the most, where ensemble and depth are not always ideal. I hear it in the brass as well, but it is not as consistent there. One need only listen to the opening of Othello to get an idea of what I am talking about. Some might call them 'rustic' sounding, but to me it is more slipshod. Again, none of this ruins the recording, but it is a noticeable effect throughout.
I am not totally convinced by this music either. Perhaps this is due to the opening Othello, which doesn't grab the listener at Fibich's strongest. I like the following Toman and the Wood Nymph and Záboj, Slavoj, and Ludek much better, where the composer's programmatic musical etchings are vivid and structured for a maximum of variety. As I didn't care for Vítězslav Novák's very sensual rendering of Toman, it is good to have another here from the same countryside.
The Tempest alongside Fibich's more well-known Spring round off the program, and with each piece timing between 10-20 minutes, this ends up being a very full program.
The symphonic poems from Fibich have a strong pull of Smetana, and that is not a bad place to find an influence. These aren't as strong as Smetana's, and certainly not Dvorak's, but I also hear the longueurs of Liszt as well, and I have yet to reconcile myself with that composer's set of Tone Poems. That means this repertoire currently sits in a murky middle ground for me, undecidedly awaiting inspiration.
Perhaps, if these were given a surer-footed performance, I would be more enthusiastic, yet what is here is always pleasant, and sometimes compelling. Most attractively, these are all gathered together on one recording, which is why it remains in my collection.
Others have opined this recording is an improvement over their earlier volumes with the Fibich symphonies, so I am at a loss as to what those would have sounded like. With that in mind, for those investigating this music for the first time, I would search out the recordings on Supraphon first, who offer a firmer Romantic rendering of this music.
Listen on YouTube
Works
Othello (16.59)
Záboj, Slavoj, and Ludek (17.52)
Toman and the Wood Nymph (12.32)
The Tempest (11.39)
Spring (13.03)
Performers
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Marek Štilec, conductor
Label: Naxos
Year: 2014
Total Timing: 72.27
Fibich is a conservative Nationalist composer, much along the lines of Smetana.
I have favorites among Fibich's symphonies, but not so much amongst his symphonic poems, even though they are attractive, Romantic works nonetheless.
Perhaps a better orchestra would make this music work better?
Find more Fibich recordings HERE!
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