Dvorak: Symphonies 7 & 9 / Kubelik, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Rafael Kubelik recorded these great symphonies several times. Five of his 9ths and three of his 7ths are currently available, in addition to CDs by such great Dvorákians as Ancerl, Kertész, and Rowicki. But this reissue of early stereo 1956 recordings is so well-transferred to CD, Kubelik conducts with such understanding, and the Vienna Philharmonic plays with such ardor that, especially at midprice, the disc is a viable contender. Some may prefer his later DG versions for plumbing deeper depths and more nuanced orchestral playing. But these have a lot going for them: the passion he brings to the first movement of the 7th and the perfectly judged cross-rhythms of the 3rd movement, the tender Largo of the 9th, and so much more. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

Stuck In The Saddle Again (Light Cavalry March, Suppe)
Sing Verdi Very Loud (La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi)
Its The Same Every Verse (In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg)
Musical Bs (Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms)
Dont Play That Violin (Violin Concerto #2, Paganini)
Schuberts Trout (Trout Quintet, Schubert)
Dvorak The Czechoslovak (Humoresque #7, Dvorak)
A Fan of Chopin (Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin)
Please Do Not Tease The Viennese (Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss)
Its Spring! (Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi)
Wow What a Wedding Cake (Wedding March, from A Midsummer Nights Dream,. Mendelssohn)
Instrumental Performances:
Light Cavalry March, Suppe
La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi (with vocals)
In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg
Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms
Violin Concerto #2, Paganini
Trout Quintet, Schubert
Humoresque #7, Dvorak
Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin
Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss
Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

Amazon.com

From a pure-pleasure standpoint, the first Beethoven's Wig was nothing to flip over, and the second disc in the series follows suit. However, that is not to say that this is not a valuable and possibly ingenious record. Those unfamiliar with the premise will quickly get the picture: Producer/writer/lead singer/chief clever guy Richard Perlmutter gathers a bundle of important classical works (Paganini's "Violin Concerto #2," Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz") and makes up silly, catchy lyrics to lay over them, informing the listener about the piece or its composer. Standing out for their offbeat brilliance this time are "Dvorak the Czechoslovak" ("Humoresque #7," Dvorak) and "Wow What a Wedding Cake" (Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mendelssohn). Few stabs at mixing education with entertainment succeed so well. As a bonus, the second half of the CD repeats the symphonies straight up, presenting a neat opportunity to quiz kids 5-12 on what and who they've just heard. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Greatest baby gift ever.......2007-03-15

Both of my grandchildren (and their parents and grandparents) are hooked on this CD and all of the silliness and beauty it brings into our lives. We sing to it, dance to it, and find ourselves thinking about it at odd times. Who can't love singing Verdi VERY LOUD? I've now started giving this as a simple baby gift, especially to those with older siblings. They are already equipped with clothing and nursery gear, and Beethoven's Wig invites the whole family to gather round...even if it is just on short car rides.

Great for the whole family.......2007-01-04

My husband, 18 month old daughter and I all love this CD. It's a staple in the car. One caveat- these lyrics will get stuck in your head and I now find myself singing the "words" to these songs when I hear them in a store or commercial! I'm hoping this means my daughter will recognize these songs as she gets older.

More Great Fun.......2006-03-13

Like the first volume, this CD encourages young children to enjoy classical music. The silly lyrics sometimes impart factual information on the composer or the piece. There are 11 sing-along symphonies and then the 11 symphonies are replayed without the lyrics--total of 22 tracks. Booklet with lyrics and trivia is included. All our children (aged 2-12) enjoy this CD, as do we.

One is better but this is still awesome!! Gotta have it!.......2006-01-10

My children loved Beethovens Wig 1. I checked this one out at the library. Then, we decided we had to have this one too.
Yes, one is the best but 2 is still wonderful.
Save yourself the shipping and order both at the same time.
We all thoroughly enjoy it. My 4 yr old can name these classicals when he hears them elsewhere and he can hum these beautiful songs. Much better than kiddie rhymes and Disney jingles. Culture your children the funniest way!!

Absolute joy, and endless fun!.......2005-11-15

The tunes and word stay with you and before you know it, you are signing them along. My two kids (ages 9 and 7) ask me to put the CD on as soon as we get into the car. What a wonderful and fun way to get them to love classical music!

Average customer rating:

Heartfelt, passionate versions
Great Recording
Great set of music!
Kertesz or Kubelik in the Dvorak symphonies?
Amazing performances

Dvorák: The Symphonies

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
Schubert: 8 Symphonies
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Schumann: The 4 Symphonies
Johannes Brahms: The Symphonies

ASIN: B0000041WV
Release Date: 1992-02-11

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': I: Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': II: Adagio molto
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': III: Allegretto
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': IV: Finale - Allegro animato
Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 4: Allegro con molto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2: II: Poco adagio
Symphony No. 2: III: Scherzo: Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 2: IV: Finale: Allegro con fuoco
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: I: Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: II: Adagio molto
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: III: Finale: Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: I. Allegro
Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: II. Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile
Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: III. Allegro feroce
Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: IV. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76 (Beginning): I. Allegro ma non troppo
Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76 (Beginning): II. Andante con moto
Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76 (Beginning): III. Scherzo: Allegro scherzando

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 (Conclusion): IV. Finale: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: I. Allegro non tanto
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: II. Adagio
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: III. Scherzo (Furiant): Presto
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: IV. Finale: Allegro con spirito
'V prirode', Op. 91: In Nature's Realm

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: I. Allegro maestoso
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: II. Poco adagio
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: III. Scherzo: Vivace - poco meno mosso
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: IV. Allegro
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: I. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: II. Adagio
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: III. Allegretto grazioso
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': I. Adagio - Allegro molto
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': II. Largo
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': III. Molto vivace
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': IV. Allegro con fuoco
'Karneval' Overture, Op. 92
Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66
'Domov muj' Overture, Op. 62

Amazon.com essential recording

For decades, there were only three complete collections of Dvorák's symphonies: this one; Rowicki's with the same orchestra; and Kubelik's with the Berlin Philharmonic. Kertész offers the most rustic, gutsy interpretations of all. Famous for his dislike of rehearsals, he allows the London Symphony to make a much rougher sound than his colleagues tolerate, and though not the last word in polish, the results have a spontaneous charm that's pretty hard to resist. More to the point, Dvorák's early symphonies (Nos. 1 to 5) remain sadly neglected, and each one of them is full of gorgeous tunes cloaked in mellifluous orchestration. At budget price, this set now costs less than it did on LP in the 1960s. How can you do better than that? --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Heartfelt, passionate versions.......2007-06-23

The late Istvan Kertesz continues to amaze, with this spectacular reissue of his 1960s Dvorak symphonies cycle. These versions each compare well with or exceed the legendary recordings by Ancerl, Szell, Talich, et al. Sound quality is excellent, and the mix on the orchestra is almost always just right, balancing strings, brass, and percussion. Compared to some Czech recordings, the woodwinds volumes are a bit weak, which is unfortunate because woodwinds are one of Dvorak's specialties. If you have no other set of Dvorak symphonies, or have 10 copies of "From the New World" and no copies of Symphonies 1, 2 or 3, then this is a must-have set. From the opening bars of Symphony No. 1, you'll agree you're in the presence of greatness.

Great Recording.......2007-06-03

Friends and CD-guides told me this was the best. And they were right.

Great set of music!.......2007-05-24

Along with Piotr Tchaikovsky, Antonin Dvorak was probably the most prolific composer of the Romance period. He composed for just about every genre of classical music except ballet, and is known for a wide variety of works. Some of his most famous are his symphonies. He wrote 9, out of respect for Beethoven, and like the German master, the last one is the most widely recognized. But like Beethoven, all 9 symphonies are incredible pieces of music in their own right. This set has all 9 symphonies, along with several other popular orchestral works. The sound quality is good, the orchestration is great, and the choice of music is great. All the pieces are dramatic, with melodies that range from powerful to awe-inspiring to melancholy. Every piece of music in this set is purely in the Romantic style; full of emotion, and many are inspired by folk tunes from Eastern Europe. All in all, a great set, and for a great price.

Kertesz or Kubelik in the Dvorak symphonies?.......2006-05-03

Although decades old, the two analog sets of Dvorak symphonies from Kertesz and Kubelik remain the front-runnters. From the mid-Sixties onward Decca has been so satisfied with the groundbreaking Kertesz cycle, the first to bring Sym. 1-6 to the general listening public outisde Czechoslovakia, that the company has rarely re-recorded any but the last three, most famous symphonies. DG, on the other hand, didn't release Kubelik's Sym. 1-6 until the digital era (1988, I believe), keeping them in the vualts and out of competiiton with Kertesz.

Now both sets are offered at basically the same price on 6 mid-line discs, with deep discounts on the used market. The difference between the two is quite marked musically, however. Kertesz comunicates the thrill of discovery in the early symphhonies. Amazingly, he had never conducted them before, and their vibrancy and inner life lift my spirits every time I hear them. The LSO didn't know these pieces, either, but play with rousing commitment and vivacity.

By comparison, Kubelik sounds rather correct and staid. He often chooses marginally slower tempos, and his enthusiasm for letting the dance rhytyms become exciting is limited. The Berlin Phil. seems not to catch on to the Slavonic folk idiom, which gets played far too straight (Dvorak had the same problem with Greman orchestras in his lifetime and was only accepted in Vienna and Berlin at first as a kind of naive, folk-flavored Brahms). As to sonics, the Decca set holds up well, being a bit bright at times but otherwise detailed and forward. DG, unforunately, gave Kubelik's later symphonies (#7-9) harsh, glaring sound that makes his readings sound brash; there's an unpleasant sting to the sound at higher volumes. This problem seems less in the earlier symphonies (the cycle was recorded over a longer period than Kertesz's and thus has more variable sound). I do not know if the current re-issue also includes remastering.

It's regrettable that in the interest of economics Decca has cut out several of Kertesz's most interesting fillers, such as the Hussite Over., though they can be found on other CDs from him. We get the Carnival Over. on both sets, after which Kertesz gives us the "My Homeland" and "In Nature's Realm" Over., while Kubelik offers the Scerzo capriccioso and The Wild Dove tone poem, both performed by his Bavarian State Orchestra rather than the Berliners.

As msut be obvious by now, I don't feel the two sets are competitive artistically. Kubelik was a major conductor and dedicated to Dvorak, but his best work isn't here. Kertesz, though not native born to the composer as Kubelik was, found a special affinity for Dvorak, and his cycle is one of the small miracles of Sixties recording. Perhaps not so minor considering that no one has bettered him in the early symphonies for forty years.

Amazing performances.......2005-03-28

This orchestra really has a rich, powerful sound, but can still give deep emotional sounds, all of which are needed to perform Dvorak. I doubt one can find finer performances of these symphonies, and the other works included in the set are very well chosen. The performances of each symphony are incredible, the sound quality is very good, and as I said before, the orchestra is wonderful. Highly recommended.

Dvorák: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; In Nature; Serenade for Winds; Serenade for Strings, etc.

Average customer rating:

Great value!

Dvorák: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; In Nature; Serenade for Winds; Serenade for Strings, etc.

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies; Finlandia; Kullervo; etc.
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Ludwig van Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies - Arturo Toscanini / NBC Symphony Orchestra
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-6, 8 & 9

ASIN: B000A6T2KI
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

Great value!.......2007-06-01

I think this 7 cd set is totally worth the low price.
I can't find any review of this set of CDs online, so I did some research after I bought it.
It is the first CD release of Sir Andrew Davis's complete Dvorak's symphonies.
These recordings were made between 1978-1982 by CBS. (ADD/DDD)
SONY DSD remaster eliminated most of the early digital sound problems.
PO players produced warm and dramatic sounds.
The still young Andrew Davis did a great job adding his personal reading of the scores. I like his slower tempo treatment of Symphony No. 9.
Symphony no.1,3 and the Carnival overture are also great.
Only down side is the linear notes is too short, and lack of detail.
Dvorak's music always bring me the love for life. I hope you will enjoy it too.

Average customer rating:

The Cleveland Orchestra in very fine form
Plain-spoken to a fault
Very nice recording
Pure Dvorak
Great eighth, Poor Nineth

Dvorak: 3 Great Symphonies

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tchaikovsky: Symphonies no 4, 5, & 6 / Karajan, Berlin PO
Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances
Symphonie Fantastique
Schumann: The 4 Symphonies

ASIN: B0000042EI
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: Allegro maestro - Dvorak
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: Poco Adagio - Dvorak
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: Scherzo: Vivace - Dvorak
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: Finale: Allegro - Dvorak
Symphony no 8 in G major, Op. 70: Allegro con brio - Dvorak
Symphony no 8 in G major, Op. 70: Adagio - Dvorak
Symphony no 8 in G major, Op. 70: Allegretto grazioso - Dvorak
Symphony no 8 in G major, Op. 70: Allegro, ma non troppo - Dvorak

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': Adagio - Allegro Molto - Antonin Dvorak
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': Largo - Antonin Dvorak
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': Scherzo. Molto vivace - Antonin Dvorak
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': Allegro con fuoco - Antonin Dvorak
Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66: Scherzo capriccioso - Antonin Dvorak

Amazon.com

Dvor´k's last three symphonies deserve every ounce of their popularity. Although the Eighth and Ninth are virtually ubiquitous, the greatest by common consent is the Seventh, which the composer wrote in the wake of having heard Brahms's Third Symphony (which was in turn influenced by Dvorák's Fifth). The friendship between Brahms and Dvorák was one of the most interesting artistic relationships in musical history, comparable only to that between Mozart and Haydn. Brahms, for his part, was clearly thinking of Dvorák's Seventh when he wrote his own Fourth Symphony, and actually corrected the publisher's proofs of Dvorák's Ninth when his friend, who was stuck in New York, was unable to. The Cleveland Orchestra has a great tradition of performance in both Brahms and Dvorák, inculcated by the incomparable George Szell, whose recordings of these three symphonies are also available. If you're looking for digital sound, you'll find that Szell's high standards have been admirably maintained by Dohnanyi and the orchestra. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

The Cleveland Orchestra in very fine form.......2007-05-02

This morning I downloaded these fine performances as well as the outstanding benchmark Kubelik Dvorak Symphony cycle at Rhapsody. Like Tchaikovsky, Dvorak's last three symphonies rock the house. His 9th reminds me of Tchaikovsky's 5th, though not quite as intense and not as horn laden. Dvorak's last three are much more spirited and intense over his first six. Like Tchaikovsky, we do miss out on some great music if we ignore the earlier works. I listened to the entire Kubilek cycle this morning and had a jolly good time.

While both the Cleveland and Kublik renditions are excellent, the Cleveland gets my nod for being a pretty good DDD recording vs the excellent Kubilek analog, though I would not suffer want from the quality of either. The recording levels seem to be higher and the music just seems to blast better out my speakers with more intensity with the Cleveland set.

There are many more recordings of Dvorak's last three symphonies than his first six. This is a shame! I was very pleased with the recordngs by Kubelik of symphonies 1 to 6 and can enjoy them along with my complete Valcav Neumann cycle that I have on vinyl.

I have on vinyl gatefold lp the Cleveland Orchestra's Dvorak Slavonic Dances directed by Szell. These must date possibly to the late 50s. I have nearly worn them out they are that good. It is nice to see that the Cleveland Orchestra has not let its guard down since Mr. Szell passed away in 1970 and has maintained their world class orchestral status.

As Nixon often said, "let me make this perfectly clear," the recrordings of these three symphonies by the Cleveland Orchestra are very strong 5 star performances!

Plain-spoken to a fault.......2007-02-20

Dohnanyi produced a decade's worth of recordings from Cleveland that were technically impeccable and yet almost faceless. In concert he can be an estimable and even exciting condcutor, but you'd never know it from these plain-spoken Dvorak symphonies. All Czech color has been drained; in fact, these are the most bleached Dvorak readings I've ever heard. The opening Allegros are disspiriting, the slow movements cautious, the scherzos totally devoid of earthy folk rhythems, the finales underwhelming instead of thrilling. Usually it's not fair to characterize a major artist's work wth such sweeping generalizations, but I must confess that I can't bring myself to describe any of the symphonies in detail. Apparently there are listeners who admire them. I couldn't value them except as a sleeping aid.

Very nice recording.......2006-03-13

This is a very nice recording of these symphonies. I had been trying to find all three together for a while, and I was so happy when I found this. I would highly reccommend it to anyone who enjoys Dvorak.

Pure Dvorak.......2004-12-20

After having listened to these interpretations of Dvorak's most famous symphonies, I can't go back to my old ones anymore. Granted, I'm a big fan of Dohnanyi's "straightforward approach," but it really does prove to be the right way to go here. I'm particularly taken with the Ninth, which many conductors take ridiculous liberties with to try to give it their seal of individuality. Dohnanyi correctly realizes that the individuality is already inherent the music and blazes straight ahead, and the results are fantastic--much like the classic Szell recording, but with even more fire. Try to find another recording of the Ninth whose outer movements are as drivingly vehement as these--or whose Largo movement is such a smooth, lyrical whisper. In contrast, the Eighth is exuberant all the way through, and the Seventh is as moody and poetic as it needs to be--although again, Dohnanyi distinguishes himself by not allowing the symphony to slip into either melodrama or hysteria, two easy pitfalls. There's a lot of competition out there for all three of these symphonies, so on some level the choice comes down to personal preference--but I guarantee you can't go wrong with these. Buy this set if you're tired of odd tempo and dynamic variations and you just want to hear pure Dvorak, played with meticulous precision and unquenchable energy. That's what you'll get.

Great eighth, Poor Nineth.......2004-03-07

The performance of the eighth is great, but the one on nineth is among the worst presentation. The ryhthem, speed variation all got wrong. Too hasty for the 1st movement (about 1 minute shorter than many versions of other conductors) and too slow
somewhere else.

By comparison, Abaddo's version is not good either with overplayed 1st movement. Karajan's version is better but still
far from great, with 2nd movement played too slow. Bernstein's
version is OK but not great.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Set For Lovers of Czech Repertoire.......2005-08-24

Dvorak's last two symphonies and Smetena's The Moldau were among favorite works of Karajan's wide repertoire.He recorded these works several times...No.8:in 1979 with BP for EMI,in 1985 with WP for DG...No.9:in 1964 with BP,in 1985 with WP for DG and in 1977 with BP for EMI...The Moldau:in 1967 and 1980's with BP,in 1985 with WP for DG,in 1970's with BP for EMI.This two CD consists of his DG recordings:No.8(1985-with WP),No.9(1964-with BP),selected parts from Slavonic Dances(1959-BP),The Moldau(1967-BP),Vysehrad and etc...I have almost all important recordings of these works(Kubelik,Giulini,Munch,Keilberth,great Klemperer & B.Walter,A.Fiedler,Szell,Solti,Ormandy,Kertesz,Maazel,Mackerras, Neumann,Sawallisch,Ancerl,Bernstein,Kondrashin,Dohnanyi,Jansons).Especially No.8 is my favorite interpretation and recording by far.Well- balanced rythmic figures,powerful string parts and blazing trumpets.No conductor(except Giulini)recorded this work such wonderful.No.9(1964)is good (particularly Largo).If you are lover of 'From the New World',this is a must for your collection,if not,you can find better recordings.My favorites for all times:Karajan-1977,BP and 1985,WP;Giulini's Chicago(1970's) and Concertgebouw(1992)recordings;Keilberth-1960's with Bamberg;Arthur Fiedler with Boston for BMG/RCA and Kubelik-1972 with BP.Some listeners don't like Karajan's performings because of more powerful than usual readings.They says:'Dvorak is not Bruckner or Wagner'.This may be true but not exactly.Dvorak's works(particularly Nos.7,8,9) includes structural and orchestral inspirations from Wagner and Bruckner.In short Karajan is always true conductor for Dvorak and Smetana lovers.All his performings in this set are powerful,authoritative,essential and undoubtly romantic!Very good price for two CD.Do not miss.

Average customer rating:

Is Kubelik bettered by Kertesz?
Not the best
Great 7th and 8th but early symphonies fail to excite
Could be the definitive set
Not that great.

Dvorák: The Nine Symphonies

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
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Dvorák: The Symphonies
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies; Sir Simon Rattle/Vienna Philharmonic
Schumann Piano Works

ASIN: B000025802
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, 'The Bells of Zlonice': 1. Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, 'The Bells of Zlonice': 2. Adagio molto
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, 'The Bells of Zlonice': 3. Allegretto
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, 'The Bells of Zlonice': 4. Finale: Allegretto
Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: 1. Allegro
Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: 2. Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile

Tracks:

Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: 3. Scherzo: Allegro feroce
Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: 4. Finale: Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 4: 1. Allegro con moto
Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 4: 2. Poco adagio
Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 4: 3. Scherzo: Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 4: 4. Finale: Allegro con fuoco

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: 1. Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: 2. Adagio molto, tempo di marcia
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: 3. Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76: 1. Allegro, ma non troppo
Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76: 2. Andante con moto - dopo una piccola pausa si continua
Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76: 3. Andante con moto, quasi l'istesso tempo - Allegro scherzando

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76: 4. Finale: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: 1. Allegro non tanto
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: 2. Adagio
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: 3. Scherzo: Furiant. Presto
Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: 4. Finale: Allegro con spirito
Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66: Allegro con fuoco - Poco tranquillo - Tempo I - Presto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: 1. Allegro maestoso
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: 2. Poco adagio
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: 3. Scherzo: Vivace - Poco meno mosso
Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: 4. Finale: Allegro
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: 1. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: 2. Adagio
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: 3. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace
Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: 4. Allegro, ma non troppo

Tracks:

Overture Carnival, Op. 92
The Wood Dove, Op. 110
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: 1. Adafio - Allegro molto
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: 2. Largo
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: 3. Scherzo: Molto vivace
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: 4. Allegro con fuoco

Customer Reviews:

Is Kubelik bettered by Kertesz?.......2006-05-03

Not the best.......2005-05-19

Rafael Kubelik was a great conductor, whom I have alot of respect for. However, I just could not sink my teeth into these performances. I found them to be brash and over the top. They were played way too heavily for Dvorak. It was as if they thought they were playing Brahms. Now, I know Dvorak was a great admirer of Brahms, and that he definitely can be considered a Brahmsian, but the the music of these two men is very different. I prefer a lighter, more rustic approach to these works, like one finds in the Istvan Kertesz set on London. This is certainly the set to stick with for these symphonies. I have long since sold my Kubelik recording, because it just didn't do it for me... the Kertesz recording is a keeper.

Great 7th and 8th but early symphonies fail to excite.......2005-03-27

One of the problems in recording all of the symphonies of any composer is that some of the performances will fail. Just like very few sporting teams can win 9 games in a row, very few conductor/orchestra combinations can pull off 9 excellent performances. In this set there are only 2 excellent ones, 7 and 8. The New World (9) is cold and passionless, his Chicago recording was absolutely magnificent. The rest are ponderous and lacking in charm. It seems like the Berlin Philharmonic was simply not interested in the early symphonies of Dvorak. I wonder if they ever played them in concert or did they simply record them. Whatever, this set is not a bargain. One more thought: 2 of the symphonies are spread over two CDs. There is no excuse for doing something that outrageous. I checked the timings and the symphonies could have been placed on the 6 cds without spreading any of them on 2 discs. Or they could have simply put the set on 7 cds. Blank CDs don't cost much.

Could be the definitive set.......2004-04-20

I recently, actually just before purchasing this set, received Vaclav Neumann's set with the Czech Philharmonic. A really good set to compare this one to. I also have had, over the years, different performances of the late symphonies with, Ormandy, Szell, Sawallisch, Walter and Carlo Maria Giulini. When it comes to lush sound and playing, nothing tops the Philadelphia Orchestra. It was the first time that I had a chance to listen, side by side, the 7th, 8th and 9th. But, I must say overall this set is truly magnificent. In fact Maestro Kubelik's reading of the 2nd symph. helped me to understand the work. Neumann, although wonderfully played by the Czech orchestra, somehow couldn't bring across the meaning of the work to me, along with the strings sounding like they were in another building somewhere.

To me, all of Dvorak's sympyhonies are a set of tone poems that are molded together through a cyclic theme that pops up here and there. They are all so beautiful and magical and powerful, yet seem to weave together into a beautiful whole that can be called a symphony.

My favorites used to be the 1st, 4th, 7th,8th and 9th. Now, because of the maestro's reading, the second and a deeper love of the fourth. Infact, I want to add that the second may be the composers best work. Very creative and spontaneous but beautiful and powerful at the same time. The slow movent of the fourth maybe one of the most beautiful slow movements of any symphony ever composed.

His readings of the 3rd, 5th, and 6th are superior also. In a critique I wrote for the Neumann set I said that the strings were so poorly miked that it took away from his readings and the Kubelik readings magnify this tremendously.

The Berlin Philharmonic is wonderful in this set. I wish DG would have recorded the other works with it. The recordings with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra are very good, but the viruosity of the BPO would have added even more to the performances.

This set is an absolute must have for any basic library of classical music, and a must have for any Dvorack lover, the most underated and underplayed composer of them all. I wonder how few know that Dvorak truly amazed Brahms and Brahms even published some of the symphonies for him.

Not that great........2002-04-28

I certainly am no expert so you might want to weigh the review based on that. Some of the symphonies especially 7 & 8 were just not there. Played too fast there is no lushness or warmth that one expects in Dvorak's music, especially when compared to other recordings I have heard.

Average customer rating:

A superb Seventh, much better than the Ninth
Wonderful recordings
A worthy performance, poorly served by the recording.
An Amazing Reading of the Dvorak Symphonies

Dvorak: Symphonies 7 & 9

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005OBZY
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Tracks:

Sym No.7 in d, Op.70: Allegro Maestoso
Sym No.7 in d, Op.70: Poco Adagio
Sym No.7 in d, Op.70: Scherzo: Vivace
Sym No.7 in d, Op.70: Allegro
Sym No.9 in e, Op.95 'From The New World': Adagio - Allegro Molto
Sym No.9 in e, Op.95 'From The New World': Largo
Sym No.9 in e, Op.95 'From The New World': Scherzo: Molto Vivace
Sym No.9 in e, Op.95 'From The New World': Allegro Con Fuoco

Customer Reviews:

A superb Seventh, much better than the Ninth.......2005-11-30

I'm in complete agreement with the reviewer below who singles out Levine's CSO performance of the Dvorak Seventh. It has a great deal of inner life, aided by Levine's decision to follow fairly relaxed tempos and to emphasize the lyrical aspects of the score. Even though it was Solti's orechestra in the Eighties, the CSO had Levine every summer at Ravinia, and they play for him with a refinement unknown to Solti. The 20-bit remastering has been very successful--although the original recording wasn't the fullest, any trace of glare on the violins has been removed. Five stars, with enthusiasm.

I find the Ninth inferior in both performance and sound quality, but I don't have this remastering of it, so perhaps the edgy sonics are hiding things from me. What I hear in my pressing is often coarse, rough, and brash. In any event, the Seventh is what I wanted, so I am satisfied.

Wonderful recordings.......2004-03-29

James Levine has always been an exciting conductor to listen to. His recordings are always interesting and delightful to listen to. Here, we encounter Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Dvorak's two most popular symphonies. The result is delightful. Levine, always a proponent of large sonics, has created big, heavy sounding versions. But at the same time, the symphonies are not poorly performed; rather, Levine brings out the brass without sacrificing the other sections of the orchestra. However, as another reviewer noted, the sound quality is a bit lacking. The strings, especially in the 7th, sound rather nasal and overly focused. The ninth is a bit more balanced. Still, don't let a slight recording problem turn you away from this CD. Highly recommended.

A worthy performance, poorly served by the recording........2003-03-30

I qualify James Levine's interpretations of these two Dvorak symphonies close to, though perhaps not surpassing, the best versions available. There is vigor and vitality aplenty in both the 7th and 9th. On a comparative basis, I would put these performances near to, or slightly better, than the interpretations made on Telarc by Andre Previn and the LA Philharmonic (though the Telarc recordings are much better). These recordings do fall short of the class of those definitive readings made by Rafael Kubelik (DG, 9th), Istvan Kertesz (Decca, 9th), or von Dohnanyi (Decca, 7th, 9th).

The RCA engineers achieved very mixed results in this recording. The disc label touts the 24-bit technology employed. Indeed, the recording is finely detailed. However, a very hard, varnish-like sheen plagues the violin section througout both symphonies, and its effect is quite apparent. Decca engineers achieved much better results than RCA in other contemporaneous recordings (early 80s) in the same venue (Chicago's Medinah Temple).

An Amazing Reading of the Dvorak Symphonies.......2002-05-26

Without a doubt, Levine's reading of Dvorak's seventh symphony is amazing. Not only that, but the recording sound is wonderful. The new 24/96 recording style makes it an amazingly clear performance.

Dvorak: Symphonies 7, 8 & 9 'From the New World', Overture Carnaval, Scherzo Capriccioso, Carlo Maria Giulini

Average customer rating:

Dvorak at his warmest and most romantic

Dvorak: Symphonies 7, 8 & 9 'From the New World', Overture Carnaval, Scherzo Capriccioso, Carlo Maria Giulini

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000EMSIC6
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Tracks:

I. Allegro Maestoso - London Philharmonic Orchestra
II. Poco Adagio - London Philharmonic Orchestra
III. Scherzo (Vivo) - London Philharmonic Orchestra
IV. Allegro - London Philharmonic Orchestra
I. Allegro Con Brio
II. Adagio
III. Allegretto Grazioso
IV. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

Tracks:

I. Adagio - Allegro Molto
II. Largo
III. Scherzo: Molto Vivace
IV. Allegro Con Fuoco
Overture: Carnival Op.92
Scherzo Capriccioso Op.66

Customer Reviews:

Dvorak at his warmest and most romantic.......2007-02-05

Giulini had no Czech connection to Dvorak and didn't conduct his music as in any way nationalistic--all these performances sound exactly like Brahms. They are warm and romantic, full-voiced, at times a bit more measured than one usually hears. A good touchstone is the slow movement of Sym. #7 (the only work on this double CD played by the London Phil, the rest being with the Philharmonia). Giulini takes it slowly and very sweetly, with a turn toward the meditative--we are in the exact same world as the slow movement of the Brahms First. Some listeners may find the Scerzo and finale underdramatized, but altogehter this is a masterful performance, much like Brabirolli's with the Halle but better played by far.

The Sym. #8 here is one of Giulini's signature recordings. It used to sound a bit thin and still isn't quite up to the fine analog sound of the Seventh, but remastering has helped a lot. The symphony gets the same warm, flexible interpretation as the Seventh, without the sharp contrast one hears in Kubelik or the streamlined refinement of Szell. In spirit it's much like Bruno Walter's famous recording with the Columbia Sym. on Sony; both are cut from the same late-Romantic cloth. Giulini had a great gift for the singing line, and it certainly comes out in the finale's gorgeous cello melody. The Philharmonia always played well for Giulini, and they do throughout in this set.

I would be repeating myself a third time to describe the Ninth, which comes off exactly like the earlier two works. The outer allegro movements are more aggressive in this symphony, and Giulini suitably applies more force and excitement. Because the "New World" is a warhorse, modern conductors tend to run thorugh it impatiently. Giulini doesn't, and I am also happy to report that he doesn't manuder through the dNIYA RYBW UB RGW kefi, My only reservation is that warhoses do need something original if the umpteenth performance has a chance of sticking in the mind; this one doesn't, not compared with Fricsay's nervous energy or Talich's complete immersion in Czech style.

In all, this is a great bargain set, in very fine sound, and a cherished reminder of what made Giulini both renowned and beloved.

Average customer rating:

Dvorák: Symphonies 5-7-8-9

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000CEWWC8
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Average customer rating:

Great masterpieces

Dvorák: Symphonies 7-9

Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 & 4 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Mozart: Symphonies 40 & 41 / Bernstein
Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

ASIN: B00006JC6X
Release Date: 2002-11-06

Tracks:

I. Adagio-Allegro Molto
II. Largo
III. Scherzo (Molto Vivace)
IV. Allegro Con Fuoco
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Poco Adagio
III. Scherzo (Vivace)
IV. Allegro

Tracks:

Romance In F Minor Op. 11
I. Allegro Con Brio
II. adagio
III. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
IV. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Theme
Vars. !-3 (Un Poco Piu Mosso, Quasi Allegretto)
Vars. 4-6 (Piu Allegro)
Vars. 7-9 (Tempo I)
Vars. 20-12 (Vivace-Meno Mosso, Quasi Tempo I-Poco Andante)
Vars. 13-15 (Allegro-Lento-Masetoso. L'istesso Tempo)
Vars. 16-18 (Vivace-Scherzo: Allegro Vivace-Larghetto)
Vars. 19-21 (Tempo Di Valse-Piu Animato-L'istesso Tempo)
Vars. 22-24 (L'istesso Tempo-[L'istesso Tempo]-Andante)
Vars. 25-27 (piu Mosso, Quasi Allegretto-[L'istesso Tempo]-Moderato. L'istesso Tempo)
Finale (Allegro Maestoso)

Customer Reviews:

Great masterpieces.......2007-06-17

Antonin Dvorak was one of the most prolific composers of the Romance period, and probably the most famous to come from the area of Europe now known as the Czech Republic. His most famous works were his last three symphonies, especially number 9. This 2-disc set contains these three symphonies, along with his Symphonic Variations and Romance Concerto. The last two are great orchestral pieces in their own right. Together, they make this set a great buy. Both dics have over an hour of music, and the sound quality and orchestration is flawless on both.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

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