CLASSICAL CDs

ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA/MARISS JANSONS

DVORAK SYMPHONY NO 9 (RCOLIVE) *****

AMSTERDAM'SRoyal Concertgebouw Orchestra has launched its own record label, RCO Live, and marks the appointment of new chief conductor, Mariss Jansons, with this performance of Dvorak's From The New World Symphony, recorded live at the Concertgebouw in June of last year.

Composed while Dvorak was in New York as director of the National Conservatory of Music, the work is partly inspired by his enthusiasm for Native American folk song and negro spiritual, but despite its trans-Atlantic influences, there is no mistaking the overall Slav character of this wonderful piece.

Latvian-born conductor Jansons has that remarkable ability of really getting inside a work, identifying its essence, and projecting its spirit with insight and understanding.

This performance must rank as one of the most inspiring ever of a symphony, which, although well-loved, can often disappoint in less skilful hands. Jansons' characteristics are all here in a glowing and direct interpretation that combines drama, vitality and refinement with orchestral playing, which is both lyrical and invigorating.

In a captivating account of the slow movement, the opening cor anglais solo is quite magical in its easy folk-like wholesomeness, while the overall Slavonic flavour that pervades the entire performance, from the sparkling dance rhythms of the Scherzo to the exhilarating verve of the finale, marks this as a compelling and thrilling reading.

It is recorded with a full and fresh sound, which promises much from the partnership of Jansons and his Dutch orchestra.

LEIF OVE ANDSNES/NORWEGIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

MOZART PIANO CONCERTOS 9 AND 18 (HARMONIA MUNDI) ****

MOZARTwrote the E flat Concerto No 9 K271, known also as The Jeunehomme, shortly after he had celebrated his 21st birthday. It is the first of that great series of piano concertos which pretty well established the form as we know it today.

It is also the work where we see the young composer emerging as a real genius, establishing a new kind of relationship and dialogue between soloist and orchestra in which the interchange and allocation of musical theme is managed with great subtlety and imagination.

Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, directing from the keyboard, is an artist of excellent musical judgement and succeeds in drawing playing of considerable charm and style from the impressive Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

The darkly beautiful slow movement is a marvellous example of perceptive and poised playing from both soloist and orchestra. Andsnes brings a poetic insight to the performance that offers complete and absolute pleasure.

In K456, the B flat Concerto, more elaborate writing for the wind instruments transforms the orchestral sound, giving the work a completely new and almost symphonic character.

Here again Andsnes is alive to the subtleties of Mozart's melodic and rhythmic inventions. The interplay between piano and orchestra is wonderfully effervescent in the theme and variations section and the closing Rondo romps home with great wit and sparkle.

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