BaL 21.12.13 - Dvorak Symphony no. 6

[Stan Drews]

It's funny how tastes and/or memory shape things; iirc the 8th was deemed by many critics to be the weak point in Kertesz's cycle (& I have them all). I've got CD reissues of the 7th & 9th and have just resurrected the original SXL 6th on vinyl - still sounds superb to my ears. The Rowicki Philips cycle was somewhat overshadowed by having been recorded around the same time with the same orchestra (LSO - Tony; any insights?) but has many good things. As far as the 6th is concerned -and please don't get hung up yet again about exposition repeats -my high point is the way IK managed to make the 'cellos dance in the 1st mov't second subject with a hint of 'luftpause' which has seldom been bettered..

[visualnickmos]

Managed to grab a "Used - Like New" set of all 9 (Kertesz) at £14.21 including p&p. That'll do nicely.

This would be my desert island choice for Dvorak's symphonies.

[pastoralguy]

Managed to grab a "Used - Like New" set of all 9 (Kertesz) at £14.21 including p&p. That'll do nicely.

I have the 'fat box' edition. Quite superb!

[muzzer]

Yes I have the fat box as well. I'd really like this to be remastered as I reckon it would benefit from the process, as well as taking up less space. I thought JS would think more of the Kubelik based on other reviews, but what a great prog that was, fantastic.

[rodney_h_d]

In 1966 I bought tickets to hear Henryk Szeryng give one of his - what I always felt were - incomparable live performances of the Brahms Concerto. The concert also included Dvorak’s 6th Symphony a work which I didn’t know, but immediately became a favourite. The orchestra was the LSO conducted by Istvan Kertesz and I bought the LP soon after it was issued. As a member of the LSO Club I had been lucky enough to be able to attend the rehearsal for that concert; and who was that teenager up on the platform heavily involved in getting everything organised for the orchestra? None other than Oliver Knussen. His father Stuart Knussen was, of course, the LSO’s principal double bass.

[BBMmk2]

Eternal Longing.

(Nothing personal you understand, bbm...)

[visualnickmos]

Just a throwaway thought; I don't recall if Libor Pesek's recording with the Czech Phil was mentioned....? (Virgin Classics)

[Nick Armstrong]

I thought this was an enjoyable BaL, with extracts from quite a few of the many recordings available. Alsop's recording sounded very good, as did Belohlavek's with the Czech PO. I also enjoyed Mackerras and Colin Davis and the tantalising single extract from BPO/Kubelik (I couldn't hear what the reviewer was complaining about). But I agree with him about the Kertesz, a quite outstanding recording which I have never heard bettered.

The sole extract from the Rowicki was a real disappointment - what a pedestrian opening, followed by an abrupt acceleration!

I'd agree with all the above, having now been able to listen to this BAL. I don't know the piece (although I recognised the first movement) - I thought the Kertesz stood out throughout as in a different class from all the other extracts played. I would have liked to have heard a few more alternatives (there was nothing from the Pesek, nick) - were there three extracts from the Kertesz, or four? Seemed to be signposted as the winner from the off, but understandably so. It sounded like one of those performances that raise a piece to new heights - like Mravinsky with Tchaikovsky, Abbado with Mendelssohn...

[Barbirollians]

In recent years revisionist approaches from RC and AA in Gramophone for example seem to prefer Rowicki to Kertesz. Having bought the Rowicki a few years back and listened to them the approach is different rather rigorous and frankly in a lot of the symphonies a bit dull - Kertesz to my ears is never dull and wins hands down in all but Nos 1 and 2 where a bit of rigours quite welcome. Listened to both New Worlds this morning and Kertesz's LSO recording wins hands down to my ears - it is just way more exciting.

Not surprised Kertesz won this BAL - wonder if this one is still available to listen to.

[BBMmk2]

I have the full Kertesz cycle and the BRSO/Kubelik, which didn’t win! Or even an also-ran!

[teamsaint]

In recent years revisionist approaches from RC and AA in Gramophone for example seem to prefer Rowicki to Kertesz. Having bought the Rowicki a few years back and listened to them the approach is different rather rigorous and frankly in a lot of the symphonies a bit dull - Kertesz to my ears is never dull and wins hands down in all but Nos 1 and 2 where a bit of rigours quite welcome. Listened to both New Worlds this morning and Kertesz's LSO recording wins hands down to my ears - it is just way more exciting.

Not surprised Kertesz won this BAL - wonder if this one is still available to listen to.

There is the odd box set around at reasonable prices. The symphonies on their own at around £20.

The symphonies, tone poems etc all available to stream on Apple Music, and presumably elsewhere.

[jayne lee wilson]

I bought the Rowicki Cycle in high excitement after an earlier Gramophone Review.... on Philips Duos and.... it sounded dull and uninteresting, with just a glimpse what might be hidden beneath the grey sonic veil....

So later I bought the large, heavy, lovely blue and maroon original Philips set 2ndhand - and it was a revelation and a recreation...much better sound, much better music....top of my Dvorak pops.

Singly though, if I were to reach for a 6th now....?
Gorgeous glowing Brahmsian Ancerl with the Czech PO, Rudolfinum 1966, on the Supraphon Gold Edition. No wonder its so lovely: the 6th is a sort-of homage to the Brahms 2nd (finale almost a paraphrase, if not quite as much as Enescu 1), and Ancerl left us a golden, glowing account of that too...

The wonderful Dvorak 6th couldn't suit my mood just now.... if the present sea of troubles ever recedes, perhaps I'll play it to celebrate, after the champagne breakfast....
One can dream...

[Barbirollians]

I bought the Rowicki Cycle in high excitement after an earlier Gramophone Review.... on Philips Duos and.... it sounded dull and uninteresting, with just a glimpse what might be hidden beneath the grey sonic veil....

So later I bought the large, heavy, lovely blue and maroon original Philips set 2ndhand - and it was a revelation and a recreation...much better sound, much better music....top of my Dvorak pops.

Singly though, if I were to reach for a 6th now....?
Gorgeous glowing Brahmsian Ancerl with the Czech PO, Rudolfinum 1966, on the Supraphon Gold Edition. No wonder its so lovely: the 6th is a sort-of homage to the Brahms 2nd (finale almost a paraphrase, if not quite as much as Enescu 1), and Ancerl left us a golden, glowing account of that too...

The wonderful Dvorak 6th couldn't suit my mood just now.... if the present sea of troubles ever recedes, perhaps I'll play it to celebrate, after the champagne breakfast....
One can dream...

I should get the Ancerl. His raved about New World has never done much for me but I love his Brahms 1 and 2

[Barbirollians]

Got hold of a cheap copy of the VPO/Chung - really rather lovely if rather more Germanic than Czech in spirit.

[gurnemanz]

So glad you revived this thread, Bb. It prompted me to play my Pesek/Czech Phil version which starts with In Nature's Realm. One of my favourite discs which I haven't played for a while. Great sound and perfect backdrop for the summer gloaming.