The performance benefits from two things. One is the sensitive and committed conducting of Carlos Kalmar, who…obtains very fine and responsive playing from his orchestra, not least from Jun Iwasaki, who was the concertmaster at the time. The second is the presence of baritone Sanford Sylvan. Mr Sylvan has a very close association with John Adams’ music…Sylvan is a most eloquent soloist on this new recording…and he’s accorded a lovely natural balance against the orchestra. If you haven’t heard this fine piece before then the present disc would be an excellent way to experience it.

Sinfonia da Requiem is very well done indeed. Kalmar directs a very powerful account of the first movement, ‘Lacrymosa’ but, despite the arresting opening and several other potent passages there are many stretches of this movement that are much more subdued and these are played with great refinement. The second movement, ‘Dies Irae’ spits and snarls as it should. In a reading of great energy and drive one cannot but admire the precision of the Oregon Symphony. The finale, ‘Requiem Aeternam’, is much more consolatory in tone; the violence is past. The orchestra responds to this change of mood with some very beautiful, dedicated playing.

Impressive too is the reading of Vaughan Williams’ Fourth Symphony. The account of the first movement is robust and potent; the orchestra’s playing is very dynamic. The slow movement is also well done. Much of this is brooding music and Kalmar’s interpretation is probing. He controls the stretches of quiet music very well while the climaxes have strength. The tempestuous third movement is delivered with great thrust and vigour; the spiky irregular rhythms are articulated very well…Kalmar exerts a fine grip on proceedings. The music boils and the brass playing is superbly incisive; mind you, the whole orchestra is incisive.

The recording has clarity, presence and depth and it shows the excellent playing of the Oregon Symphony in the best possible light, which is what the quality of their playing deserves. © 2012 MusicWeb International Read complete review