Purchases Today

[aligreto]

Thanks, aligreto. I needed some Dvorak in my collection since my dad owns it all. Yes, from what I've heard so far, Kertesz is an excellent Dvorakian. I heard that symphonic poem set many years ago and I still recall a lot of it. Vivid and powerful performances of some remarkable music.

I was not too familiar with the Dvorak Tone Poems or Overtures myself until relatively recently and I really liked the Kertesz performances of these works. They certainly bring the music alive. I still need to listen to other versions of this music so Kubelik will probably be next for me.

[HIPster]

I do not have too much of Frescobaldi's music in my collection and I picked this one up cheaply....

Excellent!  I hope you enjoy this and will look forward to your thoughts here aligreto.   

[aligreto]

Excellent!  I hope you enjoy this and will look forward to your thoughts here aligreto.   

It was a random purchase. Do you have it?

[HIPster]

It was a random purchase. Do you have it?

No, looks enticing though!

Enjoy. 

[aligreto]

Cheers. I will post my thoughts when I eventually get to hear it 

[Mirror Image]

I was not too familiar with the Dvorak Tone Poems or Overtures myself until relatively recently and I really liked the Kertesz performances of these works. They certainly bring the music alive. I still need to listen to other versions of this music so Kubelik will probably be next for me.

Kubelik is awesome in Dvorak, so I highly recommend his series of symphonies and tone poems.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Kubelik is awesome in Dvorak, so I highly recommend his series of symphonies and tone poems.

I never understood the fascination with Kubelik's Dvorak, symphonies or symphonic poems. They are good solid readings but not really in any way memorable. I think the Symphonic Poems are better rendered than the Symphonies because the orchestra is a lot better and brings more color to the reading. But still nowhere near as good as Kertesz or some of the others mentioned already.

[Mirror Image]

I never understood the fascination with Kubelik's Dvorak, symphonies or symphonic poems. They are good solid readings but not really in any way memorable. I think the Symphonic Poems are better rendered than the Symphonies because the orchestra is a lot better and brings more color to the reading. But still nowhere near as good as Kertesz or some of the others mentioned already.

I like Kubelik's performances and that's all that matters to me. Of course, I'm not the only one who shares admiration for what he did with this music. Neumann and Belohlavek are my two other favorite Dvorak interpreters. I also am quite a fan of Harnoncourt's performances on Teldec.

[Brian]

I never understood the fascination with Kubelik's Dvorak, symphonies or symphonic poems. They are good solid readings but not really in any way memorable. I think the Symphonic Poems are better rendered than the Symphonies because the orchestra is a lot better and brings more color to the reading. But still nowhere near as good as Kertesz or some of the others mentioned already.

Actually I agree - Kubelik was my "imprint" of the Symphonic Poems, had those recordings since age 14 or 15, but when my adult self heard Mackerras and Harnoncourt in those works, I ditched Kubelik. He is not helped by some recorded sound which did not stand the test of time as well as some of his other recordings for DG (like Janacek).

[(poco) Sforzando]

Actually I agree - Kubelik was my "imprint" of the Symphonic Poems, had those recordings since age 14 or 15, but when my adult self heard Mackerras and Harnoncourt in those works, I ditched Kubelik. He is not helped by some recorded sound which did not stand the test of time as well as some of his other recordings for DG (like Janacek).

Kubelik has done some good Mahler and Wagner, like his Meistersinger. And I got to hear his very last performance at the Met, a rather spectacular Götterdämmerung on April 6, 1974. That was one of only two operas he conducted there before resigning as Music Director, the other being Les Troyens.

[flyingdutchman]

And I never understood the "greatness" of Kertesz's Dvorak LSO set according to many here.  Now his VPO 9th is great, but the LSO set isn't really all that good.

[Mirror Image]

And I never understood the "greatness" of Kertesz's Dvorak LSO set according to many here.  Now his VPO 9th is great, but the LSO set isn't really all that good.

Well...we're just a confused bunch here all-around, aren't we?

[Karl Henning]

Enjoying the contrarian viewpoints.

[Harry]

Well...we're just a confused bunch here all-around, aren't we?

Not so confused! There are a great many good Dvorak sets available. But for me Kubelik is a reference. I bought this set when it came on the market, finding the sound to be near perfect, and the orchestra playing the stars from heaven. The Berliners reacted well to Kubelik, and this you can hear.
You hear in the performance of Symphonies so many details eluding many a conductor, that whatever I heard so far, nothing came near Kubelik. Kertesz is a good set, but nowhere near the artistic quality of Kubelik.

[Mirror Image]

Enjoying the contrarian viewpoints.

Yes, me too.

Not so confused! There are a great many good Dvorak sets available. But for me Kubelik is a reference. I bought this set when it came on the market, finding the sound to be near perfect, and the orchestra playing the stars from heaven. The Berliners reacted well to Kubelik, and this you can hear.
You hear in the performance of Symphonies so many details eluding many a conductor, that whatever I heard so far, nothing came near Kubelik. Kertesz is a good set, but nowhere near the artistic quality of Kubelik.

Kubelik's Dvorak is world-class. I also never felt the need to ditch it as his interpretations really get under the skin of this music better than most. Also, I like what Szell/Cleveland did in this music. Another favorite of mine.

P.S. I'm sure Sarge is head-banging to the fact that I mentioned Szell's Dvorak right now.

[aligreto]

I have already stated that I have not been an avid Dvorak collector but let me just add my two cent contrarian viewpoint with regard to the symphonies 





That is one set that I bought some time ago and have not really felt the need to move away from it.

[aligreto]

Today....

[5against4]

Bought today, no fewer than 4 hours(!) of new music from Rob Brown and Sean Booth. The word 'excitement' doesn't even come close; the listening starts tonight in earnest…



Available here.

[Sergeant Rock]

Enjoying the contrarian viewpoints.

Mine:

Gold: Rowicki, Kertesz
Silver: Neumann, Suitner
Bronze: Kubelik, Anguélov

Wish Dohnányi/Cleveland had done a complete cycle. The symphonies they did record are outstanding.

Sarge

[Parsifal]

Was about to type in my Dvorak symphony opinions (I assume that's what's being discussed, based on the conductors mentioned) and realized that everyone on this thread has read them already, at least twice. I even know what you would reply if I did.