Dvorak's Symphonies

[Frankler]

Dvorak's 4th was one of the first pieces of classical music I owned, I still think its finale is very catchy; A couple of years later I recognized the same movement in some lesbian film I watched. 

[sound67]

I wanna watch that lesbian film. Maybe it'll make me appreciate that Dvorák symphony more!

Thomas

[lukeottevanger]

I have a filthy yet pertinent-to-the-piece reply to that one, but I'll refrain.....  0:) 0:)

[mahler10th]

I have a filthy yet pertinent-to-the-piece reply to that one, but I'll refrain.....  0:) 0:)

Don't refrain, I've been sitting for an hour trying to figure out what it might be!

[Brian]

Don't refrain, I've been sitting for an hour trying to figure out what it might be!

Well, the finale of the Dvorak Fourth takes ages to reach its climax.

[sound67]

Well, the finale of the Dvorak Fourth takes ages to reach its climax.

According to RVW, Dvorák's symphonies got "five climaxes to every movement". Sounds like they are good potential porn scores. 

Thomas

[lukeottevanger]

Well, the finale of the Dvorak Fourth takes ages to reach its climax.

...and it does so by repeating the same old lick for an extraordinary number of times....

(yes, I was going to say something along those lines.....)

[Lilas Pastia]

I don't think that collecting Dvorak cycles is a good idea. It may happen to be good to have one if you happen to find it at a good price and it happens that buying it fills gaps in your collection. Typically if you own one or two of the symphonies only, and don't want to bother shopping around for the 'best of' symphonies 1-4 (the mildly likeable but inferior ones). Anyone who buys more than one cycle should have his head exemined. I can understand owning 2-3 each of 5 and 6, and up to 6 of 7-9. And one definitely should do that, because they ARE major works that demand varied treatments to reveal their full worth. But one cycle only (if necessary).


BTW bass shy is not an adjective I would have applied to the Kertesz LSO cycle. They only need a slight treble cut and the sound is perfect.

[sound67]

Anyone who buys more than one cycle should have his head exemined.

If you applied the same logic to owners of cycles of Beethoven or Mozart symphonies, I think shrinks the world over would have full schedules for years and years.  Not all of THEIR symphonies are thatz great to begin with.

Isn't that one of the great things about classical music that you often have so many DIFFERENT versions of one piece to enjoy - enabling you to wallow with pleasure in their differences?

Thomas

[Lilas Pastia]

Pas du tout!

Dvorak is Dvorak, and Beethoven is Beethoven (hmmm,,, talk about a truism ). and Mozart is Mozart. I hold Mozart early symponies 1- 24 and Mendelssohn 14 string symphonies to the same treatment - and logic. Nice, likeable, but worthy of duplication?

Isn't that one of the great things about classical music that you often have so many DIFFERENT versions of one piece to enjoy - enabling you to wallow with pleasure in their differences?

I absolutely agree with this. Otherwise I wouldn't have hundreds of Bruckner recordings on my shelves ! It's just that owning all of a composer's work does not guarantee you'll derive enjoyment and enlightenment in equal measure throughout. Otherwise we wouldn't have all those stories of torn and burned scores, and the like.

[Brian]

According to RVW, Dvorák's symphonies got "five climaxes to every movement".

Nonsense, only female composers can write more than one climax in each symphony.

[hornteacher]

Nonsense, only female composers can write more than one climax in each symphony.

On the other hand if the symphony is more than.....say.....30 minutes long.......

[eyeresist]

Kindly explain what this means. 

Czech lilt: characteristic manner of rhythm and expression of melody. It swings and bounces in a folkish way.

Did you by any chance read the liner notes? Then you'd know why it's supposed to sound different.

My set had no liner notes. Please enlighten us.

Well, the finale of the Dvorak Fourth takes ages to reach its climax.

I thought you were going to mention all that banging at the end.


Chambernut, I have the Pesek set too. It varies from okay to very good, but I haven't sat down to decide which is which. However, I find it very easy to reach for when I want some Dvorak, as they are proficient, characteristic performances in good recent sound.

[M forever]

My set had no liner notes.

You mean the rips you downloaded didn't come with full scans.

[Brian]

You mean the rips you downloaded didn't come with full scans.

It can be downloaded legally from Classicsonline, which does not provide liner notes on that particular box set.

[eyeresist]

You mean the rips you downloaded didn't come with full scans.

My copy is totally legit! But it's no-frills... Movement times are only printed on the CDs, so I had to type them up, print them out, and stick them in the back of the case. 

[MichaelRabin]

Hi there, What you fellow forum members think of this set? Gramophone chose this amongst the 250 top recordings. I heard some samples on Amazon and I think to myself - no great shakes. Classics Today rated them very highly. 10/10 and 10/9. etc. Your opinions please? Thanks!

[Lethevich]

It is my favourite Dvořák integral - Neumann brings a very natural, flowing approach, but never risks making the music sound superficial. There are many more overtly dramatic cycles out there, if that is not what you are looking for.

Its only slight downside is that the recorded sound is a little thin, it could have more presence. But it's clear and balanced.

[eyeresist]

I haven't heard the full cycle, but I generally find Neumann bland and workmanlike, a kapellmeister in the negative sense. OTOH, I appreciate the Pesek cycle more and more.

[Cristofori]

I haven't heard the Neumann set either, but I recently picked up the complete cycle cond. by Witold Rowicki with the LPO. These are recently reissued recordings originally released between 1965 & 1972 on the Phillips label, even though this new set is on the Decca label.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0033KR5Z2/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music

I've only heard the 1st symphony so far and was satisfied with both the SQ and the performance. I've always found the SQ on the famous cycle by Kubelik on DG to be harsh, thin & edgy, one of the usually reliable DG's less then stellar efforts (and needless to say no longer in my collection).

If the rest of this set by Rowicki is at least as good as what I've heard so far, then it will be a welcome reissue indeed!