A Survey of Dvořák Symphony Cycles
An Index of ionarts Discographies
Like the Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle Survey, the Bach Organ Cycle Survey, the Sibelius Symphony Cycle Survey, and the Bruckner Cycle Survey, this is a mere inventory of what has been recorded and whether it is still available. Favorites are denoted with the “ionarts’ choice” graphic.
The complete Dvořák Symphonies have gone through various changes in their numbering (best known is the fact that the Ninth Symphony used to be considered the "Fifth" (and Five was Three, Six was One…), since Dvořák had suppressed the first four. Those four are incidentally the real reason to get a complete set. (This is assuming you already have a Fifth, Sixth [something better than this one], and definitely assuming you have a Seventh and Eighth; if you don't have a Ninth, you stumbled upon the wrong website.) Dvořák might have thought them lesser efforts, and certainly the Second Symphony lacks conciseness and the veteran punch that the composer can deliver in the darkly grand, consciously ambitious Seventh, or the even-keeled, mature, charming Fifth with its Bohemian touch. Dvořák’s Third is “Wagner without Words” and terrific, too... you get the picture.
There’s plenty of choice out there, albeit less than with Sibelius or Bruckner. The big names—Kubelik and Kertész in this repertoire—are good, but not necessarily beyond criticism. Not every recording that is Czech is therefore idiomatic; nor every non-Czech recording at a disadvantage… and sometimes little underdogs (like Anguélov and his provincial Slovak Radio band, which has also recorded for Naxos with Stephen Gunzenhauser) can take a bite out of the big boys. That said, I do have a strong favorite, and that is Rowicki on Philips/Decca, currently out of print but probably soon back in.
Because I’ve not heard even half of the recordings I am very conservative with the “ionarts’ choice” recommendation… a recommendation for which superb treatment of the early symphonies is a prerequisite.
Not included in this list are: an as-of-yet unfinished, perhaps abandoned second cycle by Zdeněk Mácal with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra on Exton which could have been the first cycle on SACDs. (See update 12/12/18)
Edit 27/05/2026:
Wholesale stylistic overhaul of the survey to match the newest iterations (such as the Prokofiev Survey). This will be a work in progress, as I add information to the cycles in the style of those newer editions... but for now, the space is blocked out with the trusty ol' "Lorem ipsum" dummy-text.Edit 01/25/23: I have added Brilliant "Quintessence" budget-reissue of the Suitner and fixed some broken links. Serebrier's cycle has been re-issued and added. Please let me know what I am missing, as the last thorough update has been a while. We've dodged the bullet of a Chichon-cycle (see below), but he got to Nos.1, 3, 4 & 5. Chichon is gone but the cycle is being continued, now with the much, much better and promising Pietari Inkinen, and on the SWR Classic Label. Perhaps on its way to an odd mixed-conductor cycle or, if these volumes (2 & 6 have been released so far) go down well, re-recording the earlier takes. In 2016 Kertesz had been re-issued, remastered, and on Blu-Ray Pure Audio, but that set is already gone again.
Edit 12/12/18: The Bamberg Symphony under their MD Jakub Hrůša have just started a cycle of Dvořák Symphonies - always couple with a work of his mentor, colleague and friend Brahms. It will, when finished, be the
Edit 21/04/16: Istvan Kertész’s cycle has been re-released on Decca Collector’s Edition. The good news is: It now comes with the non-symphonic works restored to their rightful place. The bad news is: In order to squeeze as much music on as few CDs as possible, Decca has now not only continued to split the Fifth Symphony but also split the Second. Ugh! Will they never learn?
Edit 24/11/15: José Serebrier’s cycle on Warner with the Bournemouth SO has been boxed and published and included below.
Edit 24/11/15: The new (German?/Eloquence) re-issue of the classic Kubelik cycle has finally undone the damage of splitting the Fourth Symphony among two discs. It is a good-looking slim slipcase with individual discs and includes the non-symphonic Kubelik Dvořák recordings with the BRSO. In that edition just about an "ionarts Choice" candidate! Also Ottmar Suitner’s Symphonies have been re-issued on Brilliant, in a box that also includes most of the orchestral non-overture work of Dvořák’s (in recordings from Kuchar and Doráti).
Ivan Anguélov
(2001 – 2004)
Slovak Radio Symphony OrchestraOehms
Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?.
Includes the Czech Suite, op.39. Hurwitz really loves this for consisten, fiery, good performances. "It's a shocker; one of the great 'sleeper cycles'."
Includes the Czech Suite, op.39. Hurwitz really loves this for consisten, fiery, good performances. "It's a shocker; one of the great 'sleeper cycles'."
Jiří Bělohlávek
(2012 – 2013)
Czech Philharmonic OrchestraDecca
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur?
Includes the concertos with Alisa Weilerstein [CC], Frank Peter Zimmermann [VC], and Garrick Ohlsson [PC].
Marcus Bosch
(2012 – 2018)
Nuremberg PhilharmonicCoviello
Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur? At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint. Occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.
Never been boxed but very complete and on SACD. The individual releases are: Symphony No.1 (2017), Symphony No.2 + Golden Spinning Wheel (2018), Symphony No.3 & 7 (2012), Symphonies 4 & 8 (2014), Symphony No.5 + The Wild Dove (2015), Symphony No.6 + The Water Goblin (2013), Symphony No.9 + The Noon Witch (2016).
Never been boxed but very complete and on SACD. The individual releases are: Symphony No.1 (2017), Symphony No.2 + Golden Spinning Wheel (2018), Symphony No.3 & 7 (2012), Symphonies 4 & 8 (2014), Symphony No.5 + The Wild Dove (2015), Symphony No.6 + The Water Goblin (2013), Symphony No.9 + The Noon Witch (2016).
Sir Andrew Davis
(1979 – 1982)
Philharmonia OrchestraCBS Masterworks/RCA/Sony
Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat. Hactenus ita mihi videor de voluptate quid sentiret Epicurus exposuisse. Quid enim dicis omne animal simul atque natum sit voluptatem appetere eaque gaudere ut summo bono, dolorem aspernari ut summum malum et quantum possit a se repellere?
This is one of the more 'over-complete' sets, including, as it does:The Serenade for Strings op. 22*, Serenade for Wind Instruments op. 44†, Slavonic Dances op. 46, Scherzo capriccioso op. 66, In Nature op. 91‡, Carnival Overture op. 92. (* Rudolf Kempe, Munich Phil. † Marcel Moyse, Marlboro FO. ‡ David Zinman, SWR SO.)
This is one of the more 'over-complete' sets, including, as it does:The Serenade for Strings op. 22*, Serenade for Wind Instruments op. 44†, Slavonic Dances op. 46, Scherzo capriccioso op. 66, In Nature op. 91‡, Carnival Overture op. 92. (* Rudolf Kempe, Munich Phil. † Marcel Moyse, Marlboro FO. ‡ David Zinman, SWR SO.)
Stephen Gunzenhauser
(1989 – 1991)
Bratislava Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic OrchestraNaxos
Nec adhuc causa ulla reperta cur ita faceret nisi quod dolorem aspernatur. Haec et tu ita posuisti et verba vestra sunt. Videsne igitur quantum sit voluptas apud Epicurum? Ex hoc enim constituto in philosophia constituta sunt omnia. Nonne videmus quanta perturbatio rerum omnium consequatur quanta confusio?
Includes Legends op.59, Symphonic Variations op.78. This had actually been boxed once before the "White Box" came along.
Includes Legends op.59, Symphonic Variations op.78. This had actually been boxed once before the "White Box" came along.
Neeme Järvi
(1986 – 1987)
Scottish National OrchestraChandos
Quid enim potest esse tam apertum quam nihil esse quod expetendum sit nisi aut propter voluptatem aut propter dolorem? Sed cum ea pervideas quae nos diximus, poteruntne tibi illa esse obscura? Omnia enim quae facimus aut in voluptate sunt aut in dolore. Quod si ita est, perspicuum est omnem rectam honestamque vitam ad voluptatem referri necesse esse, omne autem vitium ad dolorem.
These symphonies, except for the Ninth, which preceded the others by a year, were recorded over the summer (and a bit of Fall) of 1987 at Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow. The fillers from the individual discs are not inlcuded in the box. Here's a short review on ClassicsToday. Here is a Gramophone-review of the Sixth.
These symphonies, except for the Ninth, which preceded the others by a year, were recorded over the summer (and a bit of Fall) of 1987 at Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow. The fillers from the individual discs are not inlcuded in the box. Here's a short review on ClassicsToday. Here is a Gramophone-review of the Sixth.
István Kertész
(1963 – 1966)
London Symphony OrchestraDecca
Atque haec quidem de voluptate satis obscure fortasse dicta sunt, sed apertius quam ipsa a quibus defenduntur. Nam illud quidem physici, credere aliquid esse minimum quod profecto numquam videmus, tale quale est, quale videmus, certe falsum est. Sed tamen intellego quid velit. Non est enim hoc singulare nec solum.
This is, of course, the classic set of the Dvořák-Symphonies, still ahead of Kubelik. That's perhaps thanks to the power of the British music press, that favored Decca and the LSO over DG and the Berlin Phil, but that's not to say that the cycle isn't a worthy primary contender. It's been widely reviewed in all kinds of formats; here are two such reviews: MusicWeb, ClassicalNet. The Ninth in the set is not to be mistaken for his earlier one, which had been recorded with the Vienna Phil at the Sofiensaal, in March 1961, as Kertész's prestigious recording debut for Decca. The Editor's and the Blu-Ray editions (both oop) contain the Requiem as well as the symphonic poems: The Carnival Overture, Scherzo capriccioso, My Home, Symphonic Variations, Husitska Overture, The Water Goblin, The Golden Spinning Wheel, Othello, The Noonday Witch, and the Serenade in D minor.
This is, of course, the classic set of the Dvořák-Symphonies, still ahead of Kubelik. That's perhaps thanks to the power of the British music press, that favored Decca and the LSO over DG and the Berlin Phil, but that's not to say that the cycle isn't a worthy primary contender. It's been widely reviewed in all kinds of formats; here are two such reviews: MusicWeb, ClassicalNet. The Ninth in the set is not to be mistaken for his earlier one, which had been recorded with the Vienna Phil at the Sofiensaal, in March 1961, as Kertész's prestigious recording debut for Decca. The Editor's and the Blu-Ray editions (both oop) contain the Requiem as well as the symphonic poems: The Carnival Overture, Scherzo capriccioso, My Home, Symphonic Variations, Husitska Overture, The Water Goblin, The Golden Spinning Wheel, Othello, The Noonday Witch, and the Serenade in D minor.
Zdeněk Košler ++
(1973 – 1980 / 1994)
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic OrchestraOpus / Brilliant
Ita ceteroqui corporis parva etiam minima dicuntur esse. Sed quid attinet de rebus tam apertis plura requirere? Quis enim potest ea quae probabilia videantur negare? Quod si concedatur, consequens est omnem voluptatem per se esse expetendam. Ita fit ut animae voluptas et corporis voluptas inter se dissidere non possint.
Zdeněk Košler recorded a Dvorak cycle with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra for the Czechezlovak (?) Opus label and was issued on LP, withe a boxex set appearing in 1983. These recordings were regularly licensed in the West (RCA, Musical Heritage Society). He had recorded some Dvorak earlier, for Surpaphon, with the Czech Philharmonic which has not, apparently, made it into the digital age. The Opus recorings did, though, on the original label and eventually as part of the Brilliant box set which adds the Serenade op.22. However, Brilliant didn't trust Košler to do the job in (or didn't get the rights for) Nos. 8 & 9; those are taken by Menuhin and Paavo Järvi with the Royal Phil, respectively, both in 1994. The set also includes the Serenade op.22 (Menuhin), Carnival Overture op.92, Scherzo Capriccioso op.66 (Järvi), and the Symphonic Variations op.78, The Water Goblin op.107, The Noon Witch op.108, The Wild Dove op.110 (Košler).
Zdeněk Košler recorded a Dvorak cycle with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra for the Czechezlovak (?) Opus label and was issued on LP, withe a boxex set appearing in 1983. These recordings were regularly licensed in the West (RCA, Musical Heritage Society). He had recorded some Dvorak earlier, for Surpaphon, with the Czech Philharmonic which has not, apparently, made it into the digital age. The Opus recorings did, though, on the original label and eventually as part of the Brilliant box set which adds the Serenade op.22. However, Brilliant didn't trust Košler to do the job in (or didn't get the rights for) Nos. 8 & 9; those are taken by Menuhin and Paavo Järvi with the Royal Phil, respectively, both in 1994. The set also includes the Serenade op.22 (Menuhin), Carnival Overture op.92, Scherzo Capriccioso op.66 (Järvi), and the Symphonic Variations op.78, The Water Goblin op.107, The Noon Witch op.108, The Wild Dove op.110 (Košler).
Rafael Kubelík
(1966 – 1973)
Berlin Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraDeutsche Grammophon / Eloquence
Nam si corporis voluptas doloris privatio est, animae certe idem erit. Quid est enim aliud gaudere nisi sine ullo dolore vivere? Quod autem principium officii quaerunt, melius quam Pyrrho; rectius quam Epicuro. Nam si omnia voluptate metienda sunt, non potest esse officium, non virtus, non amicitia.
The Kubelik-cycle is the second classic from the height of the LP days that has formed so much of the collective memory of record collectors. Fabulous ingredients, there's really no reason to think it inferior to any other cycle. It simply didn't have the same clout of the press behind it - and it came out a few years later, after Kertész had already had time to establish himself a little. The symphonies were made with the Berlin Phil. But the slim Eloquence-Box (no booklet, sadly) also includes the Symphonic Variations, Overtures (In Nature, Carnival, Othello, My Home, Hussites), the Scherzo capriccioso, symphonic poems (Water Goblin, Noon Witch, Spinning Wheel, Wood Dove), the Slavonic Dances opp.46 & 72, Serenade op.22*, Legends op.59* - all with the BRSO except for the latter two, with the *English Chamber Orchestra. Like Kertesz, Kubelik made earlier Dvořák-recordings with the Vienna Phil for Decca, but those are considered inferior to the Berlin re-makes. Certainly the Ninth was always very highly considered; the Hurwitzer considers it still the "Reference" recording. Very roughly, it oculd be said that Kubelik is better for the late symphonies and Kertesz for the earlier ones, which might make the latter set more interesting for those who already have performances of the late symphonies they love. (But then, why not go straight to Rowicki [see below]?!)
The Kubelik-cycle is the second classic from the height of the LP days that has formed so much of the collective memory of record collectors. Fabulous ingredients, there's really no reason to think it inferior to any other cycle. It simply didn't have the same clout of the press behind it - and it came out a few years later, after Kertész had already had time to establish himself a little. The symphonies were made with the Berlin Phil. But the slim Eloquence-Box (no booklet, sadly) also includes the Symphonic Variations, Overtures (In Nature, Carnival, Othello, My Home, Hussites), the Scherzo capriccioso, symphonic poems (Water Goblin, Noon Witch, Spinning Wheel, Wood Dove), the Slavonic Dances opp.46 & 72, Serenade op.22*, Legends op.59* - all with the BRSO except for the latter two, with the *English Chamber Orchestra. Like Kertesz, Kubelik made earlier Dvořák-recordings with the Vienna Phil for Decca, but those are considered inferior to the Berlin re-makes. Certainly the Ninth was always very highly considered; the Hurwitzer considers it still the "Reference" recording. Very roughly, it oculd be said that Kubelik is better for the late symphonies and Kertesz for the earlier ones, which might make the latter set more interesting for those who already have performances of the late symphonies they love. (But then, why not go straight to Rowicki [see below]?!)
Zdeněk Mácal
(1988? – 1992?)
Milwaukee Symphony OrchestraKoss
Atqui haec omnia vos quidem ita tractatis ut nihil in eis nisi voluptatem quaeratis. Quod quidem mihi mirum videtur. Quis enim potest honestatem ipsam propter voluptatem colere? Aut virtutem, quae nisi gratuita est, omnino virtus non est? Sed haec alias; nunc ad propositum revertamur.
The recordings include the Scherzo capriccioso (Sy.2), Hero's Song (Sy.3), Noon Witch (Sy.4), Golden Spinning Wheel (Sy.5), Hussite Ouverture, (Sy.6), Wood Dove (Sy.7), Czech Suite (Sy.8), Water Goblin (Sy.9),
The recordings include the Scherzo capriccioso (Sy.2), Hero's Song (Sy.3), Noon Witch (Sy.4), Golden Spinning Wheel (Sy.5), Hussite Ouverture, (Sy.6), Wood Dove (Sy.7), Czech Suite (Sy.8), Water Goblin (Sy.9),
Zdeněk Mácal
(1997, 2005 – 2008)
Milwaukee Symphony OrchestraKoss
Atqui haec omnia vos quidem ita tractatis ut nihil in eis nisi voluptatem quaeratis. Quod quidem mihi mirum videtur. Quis enim potest honestatem ipsam propter voluptatem colere? Aut virtutem, quae nisi gratuita est, omnino virtus non est? Sed haec alias; nunc ad propositum revertamur.
An Almost-Cycle from Mácal (No.1 is missing) recorded live at the Rudolfinum and issued on SACDs by the Japanese Exton label (that has done a lot of these kinds of recordings with the Czech Phil). They tend to be difficult and/or expensive to get your hands on, in physical form, but at lower resoultion, they are available to stream at the Naxos Music Library. The releases are a bit all over the place; Nos. 2 & 6, 3 & 7, 4 & 8, 5 & 9 appear coupled on three Twofers.
An Almost-Cycle from Mácal (No.1 is missing) recorded live at the Rudolfinum and issued on SACDs by the Japanese Exton label (that has done a lot of these kinds of recordings with the Czech Phil). They tend to be difficult and/or expensive to get your hands on, in physical form, but at lower resoultion, they are available to stream at the Naxos Music Library. The releases are a bit all over the place; Nos. 2 & 6, 3 & 7, 4 & 8, 5 & 9 appear coupled on three Twofers.
Václav Neumann (I)
(1971 – 1973)
Czech Philharmonic OrchestraSupraphon — Analog 1970s Cycle
Nam quod aiunt sensibus omnia iudicari, potestne id cuiquam probari? Quis enim est qui non videat ita naturam rerum omnium esse constitutam ut ea quae bona sunt salutaria sint, contraria autem pestifera? Atqui hoc perspicuum est omnibus, neque opus est exquisitis argumentis. Sed Epicurus voluptatem summum bonum esse dixit, dolorem summum malum. Quod quidem quale sit satis iam explicatum videtur.
The analogy Neumann cycle had long not been availabel on disc. Until, in fact, this set was released in 2012. Some argued that this was actually the better Neumann-cycle and the best one-conductor cycle with the Czech Phil. Others say, no, the digital remake is actually better. It was not well received in the West when it came out on LP, but the West was busy fawning over Kertesz, Rowicki, and Kubelik. The set also includes the Symphonic Variations op.78, In Nature’s Realm op.91, Carnival op.92, Othello op.93, The Water Goblin op.107, The Noon Witch op.108, The Golden Spinning Wheel op.109, and The Wood Dove op.110. Here's a MusicWeb review. Like Howell, I think this is an excellent set; really as goood as any, with (as far as my idiosyncratic tastes are concerned) possibly one exception.
The analogy Neumann cycle had long not been availabel on disc. Until, in fact, this set was released in 2012. Some argued that this was actually the better Neumann-cycle and the best one-conductor cycle with the Czech Phil. Others say, no, the digital remake is actually better. It was not well received in the West when it came out on LP, but the West was busy fawning over Kertesz, Rowicki, and Kubelik. The set also includes the Symphonic Variations op.78, In Nature’s Realm op.91, Carnival op.92, Othello op.93, The Water Goblin op.107, The Noon Witch op.108, The Golden Spinning Wheel op.109, and The Wood Dove op.110. Here's a MusicWeb review. Like Howell, I think this is an excellent set; really as goood as any, with (as far as my idiosyncratic tastes are concerned) possibly one exception.
Václav Neumann (II)
(1981 – 1987)
Czech Philharmonic OrchestraSupraphon — Digital 1980s Cycle
Restat ut deinceps de iis rebus disseram quae sunt ab hoc genere non dissociandae. Nam si voluptas summum bonum est, necesse est omnium virtutum finem ad voluptatem referri. Ita fit ut fortitudo quoque propter voluptatem suscipiatur. Quis enim potest dolores, labores, pericula suscipere nisi aut voluptatem consequatur aut dolorem fugiat?
You know that Hurwitz did a video of what he thinks is the best cycle, right? Well, here it is. He's not wrong, to the extent we've heard the same performances. He loves the Seventh in this set. The ClassicsToday reviews (here, here, here) make this one of the sets to have (10/10).
You know that Hurwitz did a video of what he thinks is the best cycle, right? Well, here it is. He's not wrong, to the extent we've heard the same performances. He loves the Seventh in this set. The ClassicsToday reviews (here, here, here) make this one of the sets to have (10/10).
Libor Pešek
(1987 – 1996)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic OrchestraVirgin / Erato
Similiter temperantia non per se expetenda est sed quia voluptates maiores efficit. Qui enim intemperanter vivit, non potest vacare metu neque sollicitudine. Ex quo intellegitur etiam temperantiam ad voluptatem referri. Iustitia quoque neque per se expetitur sed propter utilitatem vitae atque communem securitatem.
"Good, solid, exciting" - a strange trio of adjectives. It's how Hurwitz describes the set in his video. The written review on ClassicsToday is here, and it's also very flattering. (8/9, "The recorded sound is warmer on the Czech than on the Liverpool recordings, which have a bit more clarity. While for me this won’t replace Kubelik’s masterful set (admittedly recorded in less ideally appealing sound), Pešek’s does provide a fine modern budget alternative to the three classic versions.") Interestingly, this set is split between the Czech Phil and the Royal Liverpool Phil. The couplings are generous: In Nature’s Realm op.91, Carnival op.92, Othello op.93, The Wood Dove op.110, My Home, the Scherzo capricioso, the Czech Suite, and the American Suite. Part of the set is reviewed (so-so) at Gramophone here. Generally, it's among the fine-but-not-great sets and not a first or even fourth choice.
"Good, solid, exciting" - a strange trio of adjectives. It's how Hurwitz describes the set in his video. The written review on ClassicsToday is here, and it's also very flattering. (8/9, "The recorded sound is warmer on the Czech than on the Liverpool recordings, which have a bit more clarity. While for me this won’t replace Kubelik’s masterful set (admittedly recorded in less ideally appealing sound), Pešek’s does provide a fine modern budget alternative to the three classic versions.") Interestingly, this set is split between the Czech Phil and the Royal Liverpool Phil. The couplings are generous: In Nature’s Realm op.91, Carnival op.92, Othello op.93, The Wood Dove op.110, My Home, the Scherzo capricioso, the Czech Suite, and the American Suite. Part of the set is reviewed (so-so) at Gramophone here. Generally, it's among the fine-but-not-great sets and not a first or even fourth choice.
Witold Rowicki
(1965 – 1972)
London Symphony OrchestraPhilips / Decca
Nec vero amicitia aliter aestimanda est. Etsi enim pulcherrimum videtur amicum propter ipsum diligere, tamen etiam hoc ad voluptatem redundat. Nemo enim est qui non ex amicitia fructum aliquem capiat, sive animi tranquillitatem sive auxilium sive iucunditatem vitae. Itaque neque amicitia neque virtus ab utilitate separari potest.
This came out right before the Kubelik but a few years after the Kertész sets, and although it was a set of one of the major labels at the time, it was on the smallest of these (certainly at the time), it featured a conductor who wasn't ever a big podium star (Witold Rowicki), and used the same orchestra as the cycle that had already established itself as the reference. It had something of a hard landing, never got much love, had been relegated to life on three Philips Duos, for most of the digital age. The sets include the Othello, Hussite, Carnival, and My Country overtures. All three sets, annoyingly, split the 2nd symphony over two discs; the Twofer-set includes Leppards' Legends, which doesn't make a difference one way or the other.
This came out right before the Kubelik but a few years after the Kertész sets, and although it was a set of one of the major labels at the time, it was on the smallest of these (certainly at the time), it featured a conductor who wasn't ever a big podium star (Witold Rowicki), and used the same orchestra as the cycle that had already established itself as the reference. It had something of a hard landing, never got much love, had been relegated to life on three Philips Duos, for most of the digital age. The sets include the Othello, Hussite, Carnival, and My Country overtures. All three sets, annoyingly, split the 2nd symphony over two discs; the Twofer-set includes Leppards' Legends, which doesn't make a difference one way or the other.
José Serebrier
(2011 – 2014)
Bournemouth Symphony OrchestraWarner
Nec vero amicitia aliter aestimanda est. Etsi enim pulcherrimum videtur amicum propter ipsum diligere, tamen etiam hoc ad voluptatem redundat. Nemo enim est qui non ex amicitia fructum aliquem capiat, sive animi tranquillitatem sive auxilium sive iucunditatem vitae. Itaque neque amicitia neque virtus ab utilitate separari potest. Sed haec cum dicuntur, saepe illud quaeritur: si voluptas summum bonum est, cur tot viri fortes atque magnifici dolores pro patria susceperint? Quod facile solvitur. Nam aut maiorem voluptatem consecuti sunt ex gloria aut gravissimum dolorem effugerunt. Nulla enim est tanta acerbitas quae non spe melioris compensari possit.
Meh.
Meh.
Otmar Suitner
(1977 – 1981)
Staatskapelle BerlinBerlin Classics / Brilliant
LQuam ob rem sapientis vita semper beata dicenda est. Etiam si corpus torqueatur, tamen animus recordatione praeteritarum voluptatum sustentari potest. Quod ipsum Epicurus in extremis suis doloribus commemoravit. Cum enim graviter aegrotaret, nihilominus se beatum esse dicebat propter memoriam disputationum suarum.
Hoc quidem mihi videtur esse subtiliter dictum sed parum firmiter. Nam quis est qui tantis doloribus oppressus veram possit voluptatem sentire? Sed concedamus hoc fortasse sapienti contingere. Illud tamen certe negari non potest: voluptatem ipsam natura commendari omnibus animantibus. Ex hoc initio tota de summo bono quaestio nascitur.
Would you look at that: There's a fairly exhaustive review on MusicWeb - from my own pen! That's all the opinion you'll need then, isn't it?! (Actually, it might be, because I cite a lot of the other reviews in mine, makeing it something of a meta-review.) It's a very good cycle.
Hoc quidem mihi videtur esse subtiliter dictum sed parum firmiter. Nam quis est qui tantis doloribus oppressus veram possit voluptatem sentire? Sed concedamus hoc fortasse sapienti contingere. Illud tamen certe negari non potest: voluptatem ipsam natura commendari omnibus animantibus. Ex hoc initio tota de summo bono quaestio nascitur.
Would you look at that: There's a fairly exhaustive review on MusicWeb - from my own pen! That's all the opinion you'll need then, isn't it?! (Actually, it might be, because I cite a lot of the other reviews in mine, makeing it something of a meta-review.) It's a very good cycle.
Vladimír Válek
(XXXX – XXXX)
Prague Radio Symphony OrchestraSupraphon
Atque ut primum ortus est animans, ipsum sibi conciliari et commendari ad se conservandum apparet. Tum ea quae nocitura sunt repellit, quae salutaria appetit. Neque hoc doctrina sed natura ipsa efficitur. Ita voluptas prima commendatio naturae videtur esse, dolor autem prima fuga.
Quod si ita est, cur dubitamus quin voluptas sit summum bonum? Aut quid est quod huic sententiae possit opponi? Nisi forte quis dicat honestatem esse per se expetendam. Sed quid sit ipsa honestas nisi consensus quidam laudabilium actionum? Quae tamen nisi aliquid iucunditatis habeant vix possunt moveri.
Compilation Cycles
"The Mixer"
(XXXX – XXXX)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic OrchestraBrilliant
Saepe etiam videmus eos qui virtutem maxime laudant non propter ipsam sed propter fructus eius vivere. Quis enim iustitiam coleret si nihil ex ea utilitatis perciperet? Aut quis esset tam amens ut labores infinitos susciperet sine ulla spe commodi? Natura ipsa reclamat adversus huiusmodi sententias.
Sed tamen tanta vis est honestatis ut etiam sine utilitate diligenda videatur. Hinc nascuntur magnae controversiae inter philosophos. Alii voluptatem, alii virtutem, alii utramque coniungendam putant. Nos autem nunc de Epicuri sententia disserimus, non quid verissimum sed quid ille senserit quaerimus.
Epicurus autem ita sentit: nihil esse bonum nisi voluptatem, nihil malum nisi dolorem. Cetera omnia neque bona neque mala esse sed ad haec referri. Divitiae, honores, forma, valitudo, si voluptatem afferunt, bona sunt; si dolorem, mala. Nulla igitur res suo genere aestimatur sed ex effectu quem affert.
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6 comments:
I've heard bits and pieces of many of these but my favorite is the Jarvi SNO set. I love acoustic of the recording space. Makes everything sound so alive.
Jarvi is not known for his Dvorak, but I've enjoyed his cycle too. His second and eighth are especially fine--I never understood the second until I heard Jarvi.
I thought Ionarts readers might also be interested in the new cycle that Decca released this past week in the US--the Czech Phil conducted by Jiri Belohlavek. I've listened to the set and enjoyed it very much. Not hot-blooded like Szell, but full of lyricism and color. It includes the concertos and feature's Alisa Weilersteins recent cello concerto performance. Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Dvorák-Complete-Symphonies-Concertos-digital/dp/B00M3GBXKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1407681195&sr=1-1&keywords=belohlavek+dvorak
There's also an ongoing cycle to keep your "eye on", from Jose Serebrier and Bournemouth on the Warner Classics label. I've read some reviews which have been lukewarm, but I've really enjoyed the second, third, and sixth. A new installment will be released next month--I think they have three more to go to complete the cycle and qualify to be listed here. Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Dvorak-Symphony-No-Complete-Legends/dp/B00KYMJ4N8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1407681692&sr=8-3&keywords=serebrier+dvorak
Thanks for the hinter re: Jiri Belohlavek's new cycle. Somehow it flew under the radar for me. I noted it several times and then forgot again, despite being a major effort in major repertoire from a major label. Will add asap. And Jose Serebrier is finished by now; he'll have to be added, too.
All the best,
jfl
It looks like José Serebrier has finished his Dvorak cycle. I've seen some mediocre reviews for 7-9, but better reviews for 2, 3, and 6. I've enjoyed all three of these, but haven't listened to the whole cycle yet.
Here is the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Dvorak-Symphonies-1-9-José-Serebrier/dp/B00W2UYOLW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436749628&sr=8-1&keywords=serebrier+dvorak
Thanks for this, Matt! Will get to it. I quite like Serebrier... perennially underrated conductor, it strikes me.
I clicked on Suitner and it took me to Serebrier
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