BaL 29.10.11 Dvorak's Symphony no. 8

[Chris Newman]

I have multitudinous versions of the last three Dvorak symphonies in sets: Davis (RCO), Giulini (LPO), Mackerras LPO (together with CPO seperately) and many other individual performances. I think Davis, Giulini and Mackerras are the ones that get given whirls most frequently. All three conductors seem to me to have hotlines to the composer's heart.

[salymap]

One of the pieces of music that I love best and have known for about 65 years. Who ever comes out on top I
really would hate to be without this wonderful work.

The RLPO/Pesek and the Czech PO/Talich are my own favourites that I own, Rob has just mentioned the latter.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So it's Sir Colin and the LSO. He certainly gets a good share of the BaL recommendations.

[umslopogaas]

#10 visualnickmos, apologies if someone has already answered this, I've rather lost track, but the Pye recording of Dvorak's Eighth is by The Halle with Barbirolli and is on the Pye Golden Guinea label LP, number GSGC 14069. The label is dated 1958, but the sleeve is dated 1966: I think someone mentioned earlier that the 'Golden Guineas' were re-issues of earlier Pye recordings.

Now, a question of my own. Rob Cowan has just mentioned his preference for Talich's 1950s 'historical' performance over the 1938 one. I've a Supraphon LP of Talich and the Czech PO, mono, blue label, number 10156. Sleeve note dated 1961, but no date on the disc. The sleeve is labelled 'Historical Recording', does anyone know which one it is?

[LeMartinPecheur]

I was very surprised and shocked that Kertesz, my first version, went to the bin so early I still find it very exciting, but it sounded like Rob found it too unrelievedly so. Will have to give it another spin...

Just the other day I bought the BPO/Kubelik set of 7-9 on the strength of recommendations above, and now that'll have to be discarded in favour of his Orfeo version

But until I can afford that - and the Davis - I'll just have to make do with the live Beecham which was still there on the run-in. Life is very hard...

[visualnickmos]

Hello HighlandD

You won't be disappointed; I just listened yesterday to the Cluytens 6th - never tiring of it, even though I know it so well. Like driving along one of one's favourite 'runs' - you know every bend in the road, every surface change, but the view is always stunning.

[visualnickmos]

I just realized; Beethoven seems to have crept on to this thread. Not sure what's going on here....

But back to Dvorak's 8th. I am listening right now to Davis/LSO live Barbican recording, and needless to say, relishing the experience. However, I was rather taken with the brief excerpt of Giulini's Chicago recording (DG). Does anyone else have more to say about this particular version?
Thanks.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I was very surprised and shocked that Kertesz, my first version, went to the bin so early I still find it very exciting, but it sounded like Rob found it too unrelievedly so. Will have to give it another spin...

That Kertesz received a lukewarm reaction on its first appearance, I recall. However, it seemed to become ever more respected as the rest of the cycle was issued.

[BBMmk2]

What a BaL. I think the set I have wasn't mentioned, the Cleveland/Dohnanyi.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Now, a question of my own. Rob Cowan has just mentioned his preference for Talich's 1950s 'historical' performance over the 1938 one. I've a Supraphon LP of Talich and the Czech PO, mono, blue label, number 10156. Sleeve note dated 1961, but no date on the disc. The sleeve is labelled 'Historical Recording', does anyone know which one it is?

I got the impression that, if it's Supraphon, it must be the '50s recording (the '30s one for HMV?): the easiest way to find out - do the Horns go out of tune in the First Movement? If so, it's the earlier one!


Whilst on the subject of Talich, I would like to say (as someone who has disliked and been critical of Rob Cowan's "style" over the years) that I thought the discussion and comparison of the two Talich performances was superb.

[PJPJ]

.......

Now, a question of my own. Rob Cowan has just mentioned his preference for Talich's 1950s 'historical' performance over the 1938 one. I've a Supraphon LP of Talich and the Czech PO, mono, blue label, number 10156. Sleeve note dated 1961, but no date on the disc. The sleeve is labelled 'Historical Recording', does anyone know which one it is?

The Supraphon CD of Talich's D8 says P.1951 - 29-31 October 1951

Timings: 9:03, 9:41, 6:30, 9:53

23 November 1935 recording timings: 9:57, 10:20, 6:52, 9:09 - The pre-war CzPO has a sound quite different from the post-war one.

[visualnickmos]

Hi BBMaestro

I have that same set (8th only) - it was the first of his 8ths that I purchased. It is not at all bad - perhaps no longer "in print?"

[salymap]

For years my record keeping of discs and tapes has been neglected. I now find a cassette tape of Czech Po with Neumann, a CD of LPO with Silvestri, and a CD of symphonies 8 and 9 with the LPO and Mackerras.

Too late for me to sort them out now, what a mess!

[aeolium]

As I find is quite often the case, there were very few extracts I really didn't care for - perhaps the sluggish performance of the 1930s Talich/Czech PO in the third movement. Of the versions I didn't know I particularly liked Beecham, Kubelik BRSO, the later Talich and Alsop. But I was surprised that Kertesz, which I have, was dismissed so early - I admire it a lot, and indeed his whole cycle.

[LeMartinPecheur]

That Kertesz received a lukewarm reaction on its first appearance, I recall. However, it seemed to become ever more respected as the rest of the cycle was issued.

EA - I've just looked up the original Gramophone review by Trevor Harvey which is generally favourable (TH prefers closer integration of speeds in the finale but that's all he picks on), while the EMG Art of Record Buying and Stereo Record Guide/Penguin Guide gave it their top rating, ** and *** respectively. EMG even gave it their special E.EES rating for spectacular recording quality too. I wouldn't have called that a lukewarm reaction!