Dvorak: Symphony No9

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 9 in E minor ("From the New World," first published as No. 5), B. 178 (Op. 95)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Edwin Paling

2. My Home (Domov muj), concert overture (arr. from Josef Kajetán Tyl, B. 125), B. 125a (Op. 62)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Edwin Paling

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: I. Adagio - Allegro molto
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: II. Largo
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: IV. Allegro con fuoco
Carnival Overture, Op. 92: Allegro - Andante con moto - Allegro
Slavonic Dance No. 1in C Major: 1. Presto
Slavonic Dance No. 3 in A-flat Major: 1. Poco allegro

Amazon.com

This, the first of Leonard Bernstein's two recordings of this symphony, is vastly superior to his remake on DG. It's a vital, impulsive performance, with a daringly fast tempo in the Scherzo, and a very satisfying culmination in the closing pages. It's simply another reminder of what a reliable, and above all musical, conductor Bernstein was. This mid-price series, called "Bernstein Century," is a real collectors' edition. Great stuff. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding!.......2007-03-06

This performance of the classic "New World" symphony, in my opinion, is the best available. First of all, the remastering is outstanding, the performance is absolutely complete (following all the composer's 'repeat' indications in the score (something rarely heard or adhered to). The only thing I find to be somewhat disappointing (although really not a complaint) is Bernstein's breakneck tempi; this is a pet-peeve of mine applicable to almost every present-day or recent conductor. Slow it down man! This recording is so far the only one I'd recommend to new listeners. BRAVO

The Best one Edition of Dvorak Symphony No.9.......2007-01-22

This record is so particularly than any other records of Dvorak Symphony No.9, especially its cello and double bass part. WOW! It's so clear and powerful.

Not as much as I expected, but fairly descent enough........2004-08-03

Bernstein has been one of my favorite conductor of all times, but as for many famed conductors, some performances, genre to genre, composer to composer, are quite outstanding, and others not so impressive. In the CBS/Sony Mahler's Symphony No. 1, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, and much of Copland's pieces and his own are among his highlights. I was quite disgusted, on the other hand by the poor somewhat empty performance (and some really 50's cinematic sound quality... quite shoddy), such as Respighi's Pines of Rome.

As for this album, I would categorize this performance of Dvorak's "New World Symphony" somewhere in between. There are some parts quite off the edge; many of Bernstein's recordings have somewhat unique interpretations, but I personally don't like some exposed in this piece. In the fourth movement especially, the instant change of tempo from fast to slow, and visa versa was a bit distracting. Other than than it's okay.

My ups, on the other hand, would be the ever-nailbiting first movement, the high tempo really prompts us for a eleven minute trek through the ocean... that was what I was imagining. The scherzo was quite fast too.

As for the "Going Home" theme, it is well-played, even though I still prefer Solti's and Karajan's which seems to touch me more, and Lenny's bit-slug-paced DG recording with the Isreal Phil, 18 minutes of a musical meditation.

Thumbs way up for the Carnival Overture! Packs quite a punch... my favorite performance of the piece, along with Zubie's (Zubin Mehta) collaboration with the same orchestra.

The selected Slovanic Dances are good, but Szell's complete set would be the one to look for.

Some ups and few downs, but that's only my taste. Listen to find out what you think.

For Bernstein Fans.......2003-06-25

This is a very good recording of Dvorak 9. It is not the best that I have heard (I can recall a late Karajan and especially the late 50s Szell/Cleavland SO) but Berntsein, the quintessential American conductor, very aptly caputres the spirit of this, a quintessential American symphony. I simply don't feel that Bernstein dedicated his whole self into making this the perfect recording. I can say this honestly because I've heard him come as close to perfection as is possible in several other recordings however I simply do not feel that energy here.

This is a very good recording, top 10 percentile, but it is neither the best example of Dvorak's work nor the best example of Bernstein's work.

A CD full of ups and downs.......2003-01-08

Dvorak's 9th is easily one of the most famous pieces of classical music, and certainly I share in the love that many have for this piece. I know it very well, and thus it's been hard to find a recording that truly agrees with me.

I hate to give such a difference of opinion here, but I really do not have the same opinion as most people seem to with this recording of Dvorak's 9th. The reason for this is mainly the second movement; for whatever reason, many conductors take this piece at a tempo that to my ears just seems very slow and pondering. Yes, it is an adagio, but it is also a very song-like melody that needs to flow, and Bernstein here simply does not put forth the forward movement that to me is needed here. In the 4th movement, also, he seems to slow and speed a bit too eclecticly that grates on me, though the music is marvelously played with wonderful brass.

On the flip side, there are the first and third movements. Simply put, this is the finest rendition of the first movement I've ever heard. It contains all the enegery needed, and what is possibly my favorite musical moment ever -- the spot where there is a low flute solo at the end of the exposition -- is so beautiful I want to melt. So to the third movement is great, though perhaps a bit TOO fast (better too fast than too slow in this case, though), and if it weren't for the second movement's problems I'd say that these two movements make this a must buy.

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. Finale. Allegro
Carnival Overture, Op. 92
Overture To The Bartered Bride
Quartet In E Minor 'From My Life': I. Allegro vivo appassionato
Quartet In E Minor 'From My Life': II. Allegro moderato alla Polka
Quartet In E Minor 'From My Life': III. Largo sostenuto
Quartet In E Minor 'From My Life': IV. Vivace -- Meno mosso

Tracks:

Symphony No. 8 In G, Op. 88: I. Allegro Con Brio
Symphony No. 8 In G, Op. 88: II. Adagio
Symphony No. 8 In G, Op. 88: III. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace
Symphony No. 8 In G, Op. 88: IV. Allegro, ma non troopo
Symphony No. 9, In E Minor Op. 95: I. Adagio. Allegro Molto
Symphony No. 9, In E Minor Op. 95: II. Largo
Symphony No. 9, In E Minor Op. 95: III. Scherzo, Molto vivace
Symphony No. 9, In E Minor Op. 95: IV. Allegro con fuoco

Amazon.com

George Szell's great musical hero was Toscanini, but the truth is that on any given day Szell was probably the better conductor. Of course, comparisons like this aren't fair, especially when so much of Szell's musical prime has been preserved in really good sound, which certainly isn't true of the great Italian conductor. But it's worth pointing out all the same, because all of Toscanini's best qualities are here. The razor-sharp rhythms, perfect orchestral balances, and, where required, stunning power of the orchestra are all placed in the service of Dvorák's magnificent music. The result is that the "interpretation" as such simply vanishes; you experience an inevitable, organic musical discourse. It's what all great conductors aspire to- -but for Szell, it was all in a day's work. Essential. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Good Lord, just buy it........2007-05-29

Not only is this the most passionately and perfectly played Dvorak and Smetana I've ever heard, it is sonically head and shoulders above the Columbia/Sony reissues we had to suffer through for so many years.

The Cleveland Orchestra is quite simply on fire here, Szell is inspired, one of the great musicians of the century, and the sound reflects the bright, spacious feeling of Severance Hall.

Let's just hope that Sony continues to clean up the scores of remaining Szell/Cleveland recordings they have in their vault for digital release. Music making of this caliber is of historical importance.

Postscript--After several more listenings I notice that in the wildly intense mono recording of Smetana's Bartered Bride overture there are moments where Szell can be heard driving the string section attack by singing the parts in a mad voice reminescent of Glenn Gould or Bernstein in their wackiest moments of musical transport. And his orchestration and performance of "From My Life".... Szell an Ice Cube? Stereotypes and reportage from third rate journalists die hard. This is music making of such barely contained passion and frenzy that even after thirty years of listening to it I still find new things to marvel at...

Virtuosic.......2006-02-17

This set contains the most technically accomplished performances of these works. Just listen to the hair-raising coda of the 8th symphony's last mvt. Truly virtuosic.

Emotionally flat.......2006-01-08

These recordings, though aurally quite good (including the 1949 Smetana quartet orchestration, in spite of its mono vintage) present the Szell/Cleveland collaboration that I remember hearing live in Carnegie Hall: everything beautifully, even gorgeously, played, balances perfect, everything well-done...but emotionally flat as a pancake, totally lacking in excitement or verve. Now, this wasn't ALWAYS the case, on record or live; witness the Smetana overture here, and the "quartet". But the symphonies are all that way, gorgeous but unmoving.

One reviewer compares Szell to Toscanini, citing the perfection of execution of both of these artists and saying that Szell, and Toscanini, are out of favor now. Well, Toscanini's performances, whatever you say about them, cannot EVER be called emotionally cold or flat, as these are!

I am still searching for the Szell/Cleveland Dvorak 8th, recorded by EMI in 1970, which presented an entirely different view, a performance with real passion and verve, even excitement, added to the perfect execution in evidence here. But it seems to be out of print!

poor audio quality.......2005-09-03

The performances are good, but the background hiss is overwhelming if you have a good audio system. Especially during soft, lyrical passages such as in the Adagio movement of Symphony no. 8.

Wonderful.......2004-05-08

All the other reviewers have said basically summed up what needs to be said about these recordings - the razor sharp precision, the amazing orchestral balance, the powerful dynamics. The Cleveland Orchestra under Szell was something unlike anything else in the world of music. Highly Recommended.

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Concerto for violin in Am

Average customer rating:

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Concerto for violin in Am

Manufacturer: Orfeo D'or
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000044X0
Release Date: 1995-08-04

Tracks:

Con in a Op.53: Allegro Man Non Troppo
Con in a Op.53: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Con in a Op.53: Finale. Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo
Sym No.9 in e 'Aus Der Neuen Welt': Adagio. Allegro Molto
Sym No.9 in e 'Aus Der Neuen Welt': Largo
Sym No.9 in e 'Aus Der Neuen Welt': Scherzo. Molto Vivace
Sym No.9 in e 'Aus Der Neuen Welt': Finale. Allegro Con Fuoco
Ov To The Opr 'Die Verkaufte Braut'

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Smetana: Má Vlast, cycle of 6 symphonic poems

Average customer rating:

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Smetana: Má Vlast, cycle of 6 symphonic poems

Manufacturer: Supraphon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000JJ3B
Release Date: 1995-06-20

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Carnival Overture Op92

Average customer rating:

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Carnival Overture Op92

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Average customer rating:

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Carnival Overture Op92

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Symphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 'From The New World': Adagio - Allegro molto - DVORAK/TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 'From The New World': Largo - DVORAK/TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 'From The New World': Scherzo (Molto vivace) - DVORAK/TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 'From The New World': Allegro con fuoco - DVORAK/TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 'From The New World': Carnival Overture. Op. 92 - DVORAK/TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 'From The New World': Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66 - DVORAK/TCHAIKOVSKY

Tracks:

Allegro - Antonin Dvorak
Adagio ma non troppo - Antonin Dvorak
Finale(Allegro moderato) - Antonin Dvorak
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33: Introduction - Antonin Dvorak
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33: Variantion II - Antonin Dvorak
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33: Variantion III - Antonin Dvorak
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33: Variation IV - Antonin Dvorak
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33: Variation V - Antonin Dvorak
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33: Variation VI - Antonin Dvorak
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33: Variation VII - Antonin Dvorak

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Mozart: Symphony No38

Average customer rating:

Radiant performances!
Get Mercury Living Presence Before Its Dead

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Mozart: Symphony No38

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000041JP
Release Date: 1997-10-14

Tracks:

Sympohony No.38 In D Major, K.504 (Prague): Adagio-Allegro
Sympohony No.38 In D Major, K.504 (Prague): Andante
Sympohony No.38 In D Major, K.504 (Prague): Presto
Symphony In No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 ('From The New World'): Adagio--Allegro molto
Symphony In No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 ('From The New World'): Largo
Symphony In No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 ('From The New World'): Scherzo.Molto vivace - Dvorak
Symphony In No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 ('From The New World'): Allegro con fuoco - Dvorak

Customer Reviews:

Radiant performances!.......2005-07-04

In 1951, the Chicago Symphony was a prodigious orchestra, having only a superior rivals to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland and Minneapolis.
The presence of Kubelik was indeed, very brief but decisive. He was a very illustrated and introspective he gave them the perfect balance between balance and color. Listening this Prague version you can confirm it. It is exultant and jubilee, radiant and in the meantime, mercurial.
His clean approach allowed the expression of the work followed its path, but filled of greatness and ambition. As the great conductor his presence is perceived far beyond his gestures back the podium.
In particular this is one the most stimulant Prague performances that I know, and since it is far from being my favorite one, I enjoy it very often.
The New World is a very expansive work, plenty of sumptuousness and virility: one of the best choices in the market, after the classical versions of Fricsay, Kertesz,Giulini and Toscanini.

Get Mercury Living Presence Before Its Dead.......2003-07-16

When I first started collecting classical CDs, I only had a few Mercury Living Presence (MLP) titles. In my quest to get the absolute best, or at least a definitive recording, of the major works of the standard repertoire, MLP discs rarely topped the critics' lists. In fact, only three MLP recordings have been earmarked as "Essential Recordings" by amazon -- Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Byron Janis performing Rachmaninov's 2nd & 3rd Piano Concertos, and Yehudi Menuhin performing Bartok's 2nd Violin Concerto, all three with Antal Dorati as conductor. It is also safe to say that three other titles are equally essential for their historical value alone. They are Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake by Dorati (the first recording of the complete ballet), Janis performing Liszt's Piano Concertos (the first recordings made in the Soviet Union by American technicians, musical staff and equipment), and Kubelik's Chicago Symphony performance of Pictures at an Exhibition (one of, if not the single best mono recording ever, and the one that led the New York Times critic to coin the phrase "Living Presence," from which the label named its series). But how does a CD line go from having a half-dozen must have recordings, to being this reviewer's all-time favorite classical label?

Customer Reviews:

Poor quality mastering.......2007-05-29

The engineer must have been asleep at the mixing board, because the sound level of this disc is so low, I had to boost the Largo movement 11dB and still can barely hear it. Ripped it several times thinking something went wrong, but it is just a bad level on the disc. Buy someone else's version...

Can't comment on the performance, because I can't hear it!

Average customer rating:

one of the best interpretation from Dvorak 9.th symphony

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Mozart: Symphony No38

Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000034YY
Release Date: 1993-08-31

Customer Reviews:

one of the best interpretation from Dvorak 9.th symphony.......1999-06-12

I heard' this production in telvision and seek it since a half year. I think that is one of the best interpretation from the 9.th symphonie from dvorak - kubelik and czech philharmony - great.!!!

and another question pleease- Im also seeking for Beethoven Triple Concert C Dur Op 56, with Svatoslav Richter, David Oistrach and Mstislav Rostropowitsch; Conductor was Kyrill Kondrashin, with the Moscow Governm. Philharmonic Orchestra 1970

please: where can I receive this titles

Music Track: