Dvorak, Antonin((1841-1904)

[BBMmk2]

Hope there's not one of Dvorak. had a look and there doesn't seem to be!

What I was thinking about today was a recording of a collection of his orchestral music in the days of LP, with the Czech PO/Neuman. Has anyone any ideas. I used to think this was a rather good collection. Played it quite a few times, iir!

[Beef Oven!]

Who do you prefer, Kubelik or Kertész? I can't choose! (that's to say nothing of Ancerl, Behlolavek or Jarvi - none of whose recordings I've heard).
Dvořák was in the first bunch of classical composers that I got into following my late 80s departure from alternative/indie/avant grade/jazz (after the usual suspects; LvB, Tchaick, Wagner, Britten et al).

Having recently got further into his chamber works, I decided to catch up on the symphonies. Having no idea where my István Kertész or Rafael Kubelik CDs might be, I downloaded both sets (very cheaply in 16 bit CD quality). I originally bought these sets a few years after acquiring the Vaclav Neumann Supraphon set in the late 80s, but seem to have lost them.

Well, if you like AD's symphonies, you need both these sets. Not many people top Kubelik in anything, but István Kertész gives him a real run for his money in these symphonies.

So sad that Kertész drowned in his early forties in the sea in his beloved Israel - what might've been?

I'm thinking that the Dvořák symphonies are the corollary of the Tchaik and Brahms - all ends up!

Just finished listening to the amazing Kertész performance of #3 and will now move on to Kubelik in #5.

Does anyone else love these symphonies and the Kertész & Kubelik performances?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Coincidentally, I've only recently acquired (most of) the Kertesz set, not having heard it since the early '80s; it is terrific - and I might even be changing my lifelong aversion to the first two Symphonies as a result! (Particularly splendid playing from the Horn section, I should add.)

I've never heard the Kubelik set! I'm a huge fan of Raphael, but for some reason this set has passed under my radar. But to add to your list, I would suggest the LSO/Rowicki set , now available on DECCA (with the same excellent Horn section as the Kertesz) - and, in Symphonies 3 - 8, I always come back gratefully to the sheer pleasure of the lyricism in the Slovak Phil recordings on NAXOS, conducted by Stephen Gunzenhauser. (Davis in 7 is fantastic - his 8 & 9 are damn fine, too.)

[Beef Oven!]

Coincidentally, I've only recently acquired (most of) the Kertesz set, not having heard it since the early '80s; it is terrific - and I might even be changing my lifelong aversion to the first two Symphonies as a result! (Particularly splendid playing from the Horn section, I should add.)

I've never heard the Kubelik set! I'm a huge fan of Raphael, but for some reason this set has passed under my radar. But to add to your list, I would suggest the LSO/Rowicki set , now available on DECCA (with the same excellent Horn section as the Kertesz) - and, in Symphonies 3 - 8, I always come back gratefully to the sheer pleasure of the lyricism in the Slovak Phil recordings on NAXOS, conducted by Stephen Gunzenhauser. (Davis in 7 is fantastic - his 8 & 9 are damn fine, too.)

Rowicki, Ive heard about but don't know the recordings.

I bought the Stephen Gunzenhauser Naxos cycle from Woolworths when it came out nearly 30 years ago! Sadly, I find it a bit sterile. Always did.

Especially 1&2

[visualnickmos]

Does anyone else love these symphonies and the Kertész & Kubelik performances?

Short answer - a resounding YES!

I love his (AD's) early symphonies - apart from no 1, in which only Kubelik makes it "listenable" - even enjoyable!

Kertész - well; he is the man for all the boxes ticked in Dvorak, no question. My 'go to' (how I dislike the term, however apt it may be) set. Rowicki (if one can find it) is also a fine traversal - also with the LSO. Neumann on Supraphon took me a while longer to appreciate, but now after almost two decades, am enjoying the acquaintance. Then we have the numerous 'one-off' spectacular recordings of individual symphonies; HvK 8 on Decca, being one example. I'll leave it here, for others to fill in their own blanks. Great thread starter, this one.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Especially 1&2

Oh yes - they sound like a second-tier orchestra sight-reading through works that (frankly) aren't the composer's best. But I love 3, 4, 5, 6, & 8 from that set.

[Barbirollians]

Oh yes - they sound like a second-tier orchestra sight-reading through works that (frankly) aren't the composer's best. But I love 3, 4, 5, 6, & 8 from that set.

I like the Rowicki set but I have never understood Rob Cowan’s clear preference for that over the Kertesz which strikes me as remarkable especially the Fourth and a New World that very few match .

Other Dvorak symphony recordings I love

5 Jansons on EMI
6&7 Sejna on Supraphon
7-9 Barbirolli on Pye especially the Eighth which held a Rosette
9 Macal and Solti
7-8 Colin Davis
8 Walter live late 1940s absolutely sensational

[muzzer]

The Kertesz set was recently reissued remastered with a dvda. Expensive but very tempting.........

[richardfinegold]

I grew up with Szell and Cleveland the last 3. I now find them a bit to hard driven despite the excellent playing. I had the Kertesz set but it went missing. I have Ancerl in 6, Jansons in 5, and that’s it for now

[richardfinegold]

The Kertesz set was recently reissued remastered with a dvda. Expensive but very tempting.........

I couldn’t find any reference for this. There was a Blu Ray issued in 2016 but unavailable from both Amazon and cdjapan

[LMcD]

One of the greatest bargains of my record-buying 'career' has been the 8-CD Brilliant Classics set of Dvorak's Chamber Works.
Among the symphonies, I think that the 5th is unfairly overshadowed by the last three.

[BBMmk2]

One of the greatest bargains of my record-buying 'career' has been the 8-CD Brilliant Classics set of Dvorak's Chamber Works.
Among the symphonies, I think that the 5th is unfairly overshadowed by the last three.

I would say that too but the sixth also is overshadowed by 7-9.

[LMcD]

Agreed!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I would say that too but the sixth also is overshadowed by 7-9.

I think the Sixth is my favourite of the Dvorak Symphonies.

[richardfinegold]

I think the Sixth is my favourite of the Dvorak Symphonies.

In the right hands. A couple of years ago we heard it at the CSO—I won’t mention the Conductor—and people were dropping in the aisles after nodding off. I’ve never seen that happen with the New World. Marin Alsop’s recording with Baltimore is another cure for insomnia. The Sixth has all the usual Dvorak faults as a symphonist (lack of true development of themes in favor of merely repeating them for coloistic effect) without the bright, primary colors of his last 3 Symphonies.
With a sympathetic (and preferably Czech born) Conductor it has a chance. My choice is Ancerl with the Czech PO