Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels - Vassily Kalinnikov: The Two Symphonies (2011)

Kees Bakels and the Malaysian Philharmonic’s Rimsky-Korsakov collection (BIS-CD-1667/68) has given me great pleasure since it first appeared. Those familiar pieces are played – and recorded – with a freshness and spontaneity that’s rare indeed, qualities I was looking for in these Kalinnikov symphonies. Inexplicably, this disc has only just been released, more than a decade after it was recorded; in the meantime several versions have held sway, notably Neeme Järvi’s on Chandos CHAN 9546 and Theodor Kuchar’s on Naxos 8.553417. So just how well does this Johnny-come-lately compare?

Vassily Kalinnikov only wrote two symphonies and a handful of other works before he died of TB, aged 35. Given his dates it’s not surprising to hear frequent echoes of Tchaikovsky in these works; what is unexpected, though, is the composer’s sustained creativity and flair. From the outset one is struck by the lovely, balletic nature of Kalinnikov’s writing and Bakels and his orchestra springs the dance rhythms with grace and charm. The Allegro of the first symphony is subtly aerated, the recording warm, full and detailed in the very best tradition of the house. But it’s the quality of the music-making that’s most remarkable – lithe, characterful and brimming with life.

Really, this is a first-class band. Bakels scales and phrases the music to perfection; indeed, there’s an almost classical proportion and quiet dignity to this symphony that puts Balakirev, Arensky and Kalinnikov’s more excitable rivals to shame. Ensemble is always crisp, strings silky smooth, timps taut and clear; the woodwind sound fresh and frisky too. In short, it’s hard to imagine this music better done. The Andante is one of the gentlest, most luminous idylls I’ve heard in ages. Fortunately Kalinnikov doesn’t overwork his material. The Scherzo is pliant and playful, the unmistakably masculine Finale beautifully toned, its sinew and muscle sensed rather than flexed for empty adulation.

What a splendid creation this is; in fact I found myself applauding silently at the close, wondering if the Second Symphony would seduce me so completely. The short answer is yes, it did. The skipping strings of the first movement are a balm to the heart and ear. These are eminently danceable tunes, which makes me think this conductor and band would be an ideal pairing in the Tchaikovsky ballets. The nimble reflexes of this orchestra – and its refined tuttis – never fail to impress, notably in that Tchaikovskian close to the first movement. And it just gets better: a light but languid Andante, a Puckish Scherzo and a thrilling, typically Russianate Finale.

Järvi is more red-blooded and thrustful, Kuchar comparatively rough and ready, yet no-one uncovers the gentle, cultured soul of this music quite like Bakels and his band. In this Arnoldian night of drear and dread such open-hearted, easeful music – played with great sensitivity and skill – is doubly welcome. Imbibe and enjoy, for this is a very special disc indeed.

Review by Dan Morgan, MusicWeb-International

Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015

EAC extraction logfile from 9. July 2016, 23:51

Kalinnikov, Vassily / The Two Symphonies - Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels

Used drive : PLEXTOR CD-R PREMIUM2 Adapter: 5 ID: 1

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : Yes
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Installed external ASPI interface
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 896 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -6 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "ALBUM ARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "COMMENT=EAC Secure Mode, Test & Copy, AccurateRip, FLAC -6" %source%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 13:49.35 | 0 | 62209
2 | 13:49.35 | 7:33.38 | 62210 | 96222
3 | 21:22.73 | 7:34.47 | 96223 | 130319
4 | 28:57.45 | 8:57.57 | 130320 | 170651
5 | 37:55.27 | 10:36.19 | 170652 | 218370
6 | 48:31.46 | 8:54.66 | 218371 | 258486
7 | 57:26.37 | 8:26.46 | 258487 | 296482
8 | 65:53.08 | 11:34.38 | 296483 | 348570


Track 1

Filename D:\EAC extraction\01 - No.1 in G minor - I. Allegro moderato.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 99.8 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 35A3E6D9
Copy CRC 35A3E6D9
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [59A15E7F] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 2

Filename D:\EAC extraction\02 - No.1 in G minor - II. Andante commodamente.wav

Peak level 46.0 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC BF41F312
Copy CRC BF41F312
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [BEBDA761] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename D:\EAC extraction\03 - No.1 in G minor - III. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo - Moderato assai.wav

Peak level 84.1 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 7978CD5A
Copy CRC 7978CD5A
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [F03E9860] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename D:\EAC extraction\04 - No.1 in G minor - IV. Finale. Allegro moderato - Allegro risoluto.wav

Peak level 99.7 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 497D5D68
Copy CRC 497D5D68
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [94FE820C] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename D:\EAC extraction\05 - No.2 in A major - I. Moderato - Allegro non troppo.wav

Peak level 87.4 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 28798F52
Copy CRC 28798F52
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [32945CCD] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename D:\EAC extraction\06 - No.2 in A major - II. Andante cantabile.wav

Peak level 58.4 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 0AEF28CD
Copy CRC 0AEF28CD
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [335DEDA4] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename D:\EAC extraction\07 - No.2 in A major - III. Allegro scherzando.wav

Peak level 81.5 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 58B22C75
Copy CRC 58B22C75
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [192A3C49] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename D:\EAC extraction\08 - No.2 in A major - IV. Andante cantabile - Allegro vivo.wav

Peak level 95.1 %
Extraction speed 1.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC F061A2B9
Copy CRC F061A2B9
Accurately ripped (confidence 1) [161B6857] (AR v2)
Copy OK


All tracks accurately ripped

No errors occurred

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

[CTDB TOCID: lzoxD3Dt45q6iW889IRGHBbgWRA-] found
Submit result: lzoxD3Dt45q6iW889IRGHBbgWRA- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (2/2) Accurately ripped
2 | (2/2) Accurately ripped
3 | (2/2) Accurately ripped
4 | (2/2) Accurately ripped
5 | (2/2) Accurately ripped
6 | (2/2) Accurately ripped
7 | (2/2) Accurately ripped
8 | (2/2) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum B2CB3C8B7C8DA9FBA18EFFEA2147C4DB866B4C677F12AC4D153B61B2289FAC32 ====

foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2016-07-10 22:18:28

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Kalinnikov, Vassily / The Two Symphonies - Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR17 -0.01 dB -23.10 dB 13:49 01-No.1 in G minor - I. Allegro moderato
DR14 -6.73 dB -29.27 dB 7:34 02-No.1 in G minor - II. Andante commodamente
DR15 -1.50 dB -23.14 dB 7:35 03-No.1 in G minor - III. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo - Moderato assai
DR13 -0.02 dB -19.89 dB 8:58 04-No.1 in G minor - IV. Finale. Allegro moderato - Allegro risoluto
DR15 -1.17 dB -23.53 dB 10:36 05-No.2 in A major - I. Moderato - Allegro non troppo
DR15 -4.66 dB -26.41 dB 8:55 06-No.2 in A major - II. Andante cantabile
DR15 -1.78 dB -24.16 dB 8:27 07-No.2 in A major - III. Allegro scherzando
DR14 -0.44 dB -21.28 dB 11:35 08-No.2 in A major - IV. Andante cantabile - Allegro vivo
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 8
Official DR value: DR15

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 566 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================