The Tampa Bay Symphony, upon listening to them perform the Dvorak 8th Symphony, is absolutely fabulous. They are an orchestra of 80 plus players that are semi-professional to professional musicians. They are really inspiring. They bring Symphony Number 8 to life. Many of Dvorak’s works are very life-giving and illustrious.
This was so fabulous. The hits of the strings and brass were on target. The first movement is probably the most audacious movement of the whole piece with it’s rapidly ascending strings and woodwinds flying up the texture. You could hear snippets of Bach and Beethoven in a lot of the movements of the piece. At the same time, the whole symphony has a “new world” charm as if the US was still uncharted territory back in his day. I love the use of the French Horns in the movement—very majestic at best. The strings offer excellent beds or streams of water to swim in. The harmonic changes are very rich and Romantic in nature with a flair of impending 20th century to them. What else is there to say?
The second movement has some great oboe passages in it and great moments for a solo violin or two to grace the landscape. Do I hear double stops in the solo violin cadenza?
One thing I like about Dvorak’s symphonies is that most, if not all of them are very high energy and full of vibrant life This is evidenced throughout all the symphony. The C passage in the woodwinds in the second movement shines as clear as crystal. You could hear a pin drop in this part of the symphony. The portions and movements of this symphony are rather short but it makes for a well-constructed, prettily packaged symphony with all the trappings that could be had.
The rich orchestration in the woodwinds and the scurry of illustrious activity is above and beyond and the orchestra does so infinitely pull it off with great accuracy and expression. Talk about the imagery that is painted on the whole entire canvas. The expression is so evident especially in the G minor movement that is so brilliantly constructed. I love the chords in varying inversions in the strings cascading downward. It’s a brilliant effect. It moves around in a clear waltz-like formation that is also brilliant. If you want to get lost in a wonderful world, this is a movement for you. This symphony and its players are awesome—an A plus in my book. Check out the YouTube video to see what I’m talking out.
