BaL 22.06.13 - Dvorak's Stabat Mater

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am Building a Library
Jan Smaczny surveys recordings of Dvořák's Stabat Mater

Available recordings:-


Prague SO & Symphonic Chorus, Petr Altrichter (DVD)
Prague SO, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Bambini di Praga, Jiri Belohlavek
Accentus, Laurence Equilbey
RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester, Ferenc Fricsay
Collegium Vocale Gent, Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra, Philippe Herreweghe
LPO & Choir, Neeme Jarvi
LSO & Chorus, Istvan Kertész
Chor und Symphonirorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, English Chamber Orchestra, Rafel Kubelik
New Jersey SO, Zdenek Macal
Czech Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Vaclav Neumann *DVD)
Prague Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Libor Pesek (DVD)
Oregon Bach Festival Choir, Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, Helmuth Rilling
Czech PO, Wolfgang Sawallisch
The Washington Chorus and Orchestra, Robert Schafer
Atlanta SO & Chorus, Robert Shaw
Staatsopernchor Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Chorus, Vaclav Smetacek
Prague Philharmonic Choir, Jan Kühnczech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich

[Don Petter]

Fricsay for me. 1955 and (excellent) mono, but what a glorious performance!

Late realisation of brain fade - I read Rossini for Dvorak, and these performers coincided!

[BBMmk2]

I am surprised Sir Charles Mackerras had'nt made a recording?

[visualnickmos]

I am surprised Sir Charles Mackerras had'nt made a recording?

Yes - surprising, indeed.

I have the DG version with Kubelik etc. which I find more than a "damn good listen" but was unaware that Kertesz had recorded it. Might be worth a thought.

[verismissimo]

Not at all sure why it is that I don't have a recording in my "library" and don't ever recall hearing it.

Is it ever performed live in Britain?

[Thropplenoggin]

Don't have it, don't know it, and don't really care much for Dvorak. More interested in the following week's BaL, but I won't spoil the surprise for those who don't know.

I would have been more interested in Szymanowski's Stabat Mater, but I suspect there are too few recordings of this brilliant addition to the chorale repertoire to merit a BaL.

[Barbirollians]

Kertesz !

[amateur51]

Don't have it, don't know it, and don't really care much for Dvorak. More interested in the following week's BaL, but I won't spoil the surprise for those who don't know.

Don't have it, don't know it .. so I'll be listening with open ears, hoping for a discovery at mid-price to cheapo

This is how BaL has worked for me since the 1960s (I think!)

[Thropplenoggin]

Don't have it, don't know it .. so I'll be listening with open ears, hoping for a discovery at mid-price to cheapo

This is how BaL has worked for me since the 1960s (I think!)

I prefer the closed ear approach to all my listening.

There are, I'm sure, plenty of works you don't know that when you do know them, you find you don't like. I have heard a lot of Dvorak and the only think that I was ever partially moved by, aside of the Hovis melody, was the String Quartet 'American'. His music does nothing for me; his Stabat Mater (the intro of which I have sampled online) is no different.

If a man can't be unreasonable in his prejudices, when can he be?!

[amateur51]

I prefer the closed ear approach to all my listening.

There are, I'm sure, plenty of works you don't know that when you do know them, you find you don't like. I have heard a lot of Dvorak and the only think that I was ever partially moved by, aside of the Hovis melody, was the String Quartet 'American'. His music does nothing for me; his Stabat Mater (the intro of which I have sampled online) is no different.

If a man can't be unreasonable in his prejudices, when can he be?!

Trying very hard not to sound patronising, I'd recommend a visit to Royal Festyival Hall (very glad to read that your first visit was a great success, Throppers ) when a top-notch band is doing Dvorak symphonies 7, 8 or 9. Take a punt on a choir seat (that way you can watch the conductor face-to-face if the music bores you ) and experience the full invention of this marvellous music.

[Thropplenoggin]

Trying very hard not to sound patronising, I'd recommend a visit to Royal Festyival Hall (very glad to read that your first visit was a great success, Throppers ) when a top-notch band is doing Dvorak symphonies 7, 8 or 9. Take a punt on a choir seat (that way you can watch the conductor face-to-face if the music bores you ) and experience the full invention of this marvellous music.

Since I've only seen a sprinkling of the symphonic marvels I'd like to hear live, live () - Mahler, Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven... I think the chances of that are equivalent to Scotty Celt voting Lib Dem at the next election. (With apologies to Scotty Celt.)

Aren't we allowed to not like things any more?

[Pabmusic]

... I think the chances of that are equivalent to Scotty Celt voting Lib Dem at the next election. (With apologies to Scotty Celt.)...

Shouldn't the apologies be to the LibDems? Or perhaps they deserve ... [slaps his own wrist].

Sorry Scotty - couldn't resist it.

[amateur51]

Shouldn't the apologies be to the LibDems? Or perhaps they deserve ... [slaps his own wrist].

Sorry Scotty - couldn't resist it.

[verismissimo]

Do we really only have three boarders who have ever heard this work?

Jan Smaczny is always illuminating. I'm looking forward to it.

[Don Petter]

Do we really only have three boarders who have ever heard this work?

I've certainly heard it, and have two recordings not in Alpen's current list (Rhabari on Discover and Munih on Pilz), but I must admit neither have been played for some years.