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Title: Consistently fine, but not for all tastes
Review: This integral set of the Dvorak symphonies offers a level of consistency not often matched in complete cycles of this music. Ivan Anguelov brings out the structural integrity of even the early symphonies, which too often are dismissed as jerry-built, and conducts with a fervent intensity that is undeniably galvanizing. However, those who like a little sugar in their coffee, so to speak, may not find Anguelov's "modern" approach to phrasing and accents congenial--Dvorak here is not quite as lovable and relaxed as usual. A passage such as the opening bars of the Fifth Symphony sounds less evocative of a sunlit early morning than it does in, say, the Kertesz performance. Listeners who prefer a more traditional, Romantic style may want to look elsewhere, but for a fresh approach, Anguelov is a strong contender.
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