Dvorák: Symphonien Nos. 8 & 9 "Aus der neuen Welt"

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
There's too much competition in this repertoire for these performances to really stand much of a chance. Lorin Maazel is a variable conductor, but he's in good form here, and so is the Vienna Philharmonic. However, the early digital sound is aggressive to the point of shrillness, and while nothing ever goes seriously wrong in these performances, they are rather charmless, and in Dvorák that's a fatal flaw. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Symphoni No. 8 G-dur Op. 88: Allegro Con Brio
Symphoni No. 8 G-dur Op. 88: Adagio
Symphoni No. 8 G-dur Op. 88: Allegretto Grazioso - Molto Vivace
Symphoni No. 8 G-dur Op. 88: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Symphonie No. 9 E-moll Op. 95 - Aus Der Neuen Welt: Adagio - Allegro Molto
Symphonie No. 9 E-moll Op. 95 - Aus Der Neuen Welt: Largo
Symphonie No. 9 E-moll Op. 95 - Aus Der Neuen Welt: Molto Vivace
Symphonie No. 9 E-moll Op. 95 - Aus Der Neuen Welt: Allegro Con Fuoco

Amazon.com

There's too much competition in this repertoire for these performances to really stand much of a chance. Lorin Maazel is a variable conductor, but he's in good form here, and so is the Vienna Philharmonic. However, the early digital sound is aggressive to the point of shrillness, and while nothing ever goes seriously wrong in these performances, they are rather charmless, and in Dvorák that's a fatal flaw. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Symphony 8.......2007-02-26

This recording of Symphony No. 8 is hands-down the best recording of this particular Dvorak symphony that I have heard. This particular CD is one of the two best that I own (the other being the Guildhall String Ensemble's English Music for Strings).

The quality of the recording itself (i.e., the engineering) is very good. I have a hard time listening to poorly engineered recordings, those with a lot of background 'hiss' or too much reverb. This recording is fine in that aspect.

More importantly, the music itself is outstanding. The dynamics, tempo changes, and intonation are crisp and clean, and the music has soul. I have no idea what the other reviewer meant by the music having a lack of warmth. To each his own opinion, I suppose, though this recording has wowed everyone I have shared it with, including two conductors with over 20 years of experience each. I have heard other recordings of Symphony No. 8 where the 4th movement drags, or the 2nd movement is without feeling--this has neither. It is better than the recording in my boxed set of Dvorak symphonies from Deutsche Grammophone (Berlin Phil, Rafael Kubelik) by far.

All those grand things being said about Symphony No. 8, it should be known that I am a cellist, so I love that cello player's symphony. Strangely, I am not overly fond of the superbly popular Symphony No. 9, so I do not listen to that symphony much on this CD, though I found nothing wrong with it on the occasion that have had to listen to it. So, the rating for this CD, as far as I'm concerned, is based soley on Symphony No. 8, which, in my opinion, is worth the price of the whole CD. Enjoy.

overtly OK.......2001-06-30

This recording is average...that's all I can say. There's just not that much heart in it. Its not that they aren't playing the right notes, or that its way off tempo or something, its just that its not robust like it should be. The strings are a little thin in places (especially in Symphony no. 8), and the brass is way too dry (especially in Sym no. 9...Fritz Reiner wrote the book on how brass was supposed to sound in this piece.) Basically, the performance lacks warmth, which is of the utmost importance in this piece. The piece is fantastic, absolutely one of my favorites, but there are so many great recordings of this, that this one just doesn't stack up against them....

Average customer rating:

Dvorak: Symphonien Nos. 7 & 8 [Germany]
Kubelik , and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000024589

Tracks: