Takashi Asahina (Conductor) - Dvorak: Symphony No. 8, Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" (mastered 2024) - Japan 2 SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Takashi Asahina (Conductor)

Description:

The second project for the 115th anniversary of Takashi Asahina's birth. 120th anniversary of Dvorak's death. World's first SACD release! The master's new aspect of Dvořák is fascinating. No. 8 is the only recording. New World", which was an important part of his repertoire, is the last recording. This is the latest reissue with new manuscript by Yuichi Iwano and re-recorded commentary from the original release. Newly mastered by Tomosook Ezaki for this reissue. Limited edition of 700 sets with serial numbers! It is well known that Takashi Asahina was good at Eastern European music as well as German music. This recording of the "No. 8," which was performed only five times during his lifetime, is the only remaining record of the piece in the catalog. The entire performance is filled with Asahina's energy, and it has an absorbing power that draws the listener in at once. From the New World" is one of Asahina's favorite pieces, which was also performed by the Kansai Symphony Orchestra (now Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra) in its first subscription concert. This 1997 disc is the last of the three available recordings. The master's masterful performance is a must-hear, with its vivid interplay of generous sentiments and masculine spirit. With a new manuscript by Yuichi Iwano, re-recording of an old manuscript by Toru Yuki, green label specifications, and new mastering by Tomotoshi Ezaki in 2024, please listen to this precious recording that has lain dormant for about a quarter of a century. This performance of No. 8 is a precious performance for Asahina. Of the five times he performed it during his lifetime, two were with student orchestras, and the remaining three were with the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, but the two performances in February 1999, when the recording was made, and the performance the following year at a special concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of Izumi Hall seem to have been his last. Compared to "New World," which is also a Dvořák piece that has been performed many times, the number of performances of this piece is fewer, and the number of performances that I have actually heard of it is very few, so it is a rather rare piece. Asahina's interpretation of Dvořák is similar to that of "New World," but his bright performance of the melodically rich No. 8 is considered to be the best of all. The performance is less than 40 minutes long, but the fullness of the performance is unmistakable. I hope that the high sound quality of this recording will make Asahina's performance of No. 8 more widely known and revalued.Although "New World" was so frequently performed that it could be said to have formed the core of Asahina's repertoire, it was not a piece for which he made many recordings. It is amazing that he performed it more than 250 times in his lifetime, but it may be because it is a very famous piece. Many of you may have seen him perform this piece regularly, including at the New Year's Concert every year. This recording was made live on January 7, 1997 at the "Osaka Philharmonic New Year's Masterpieces Concert," and the performance is full of Asahina's enthusiasm. The performance is rich in expression as he slowly sings many phrases of the masterpieces, and it can be said that this is a performance that delights the audience. Overall, the performance has a sense of stability due to its large amplitude. Rather than the flow of the standard pieces, Asahina's spirit of entertaining the music itself is more palpable. Now that more details can be grasped with this SACD release, this sound source will also receive further acclaim. (1/2)