Dvorak's Den

[DavidW]

Well, you've reminded me that I actually need to sit down and listen to that piece...

It is about as long as a Mahler symphony, so clear your calendar in advance!

[Madiel]

And then there's the insufferable 3rd String Quartet. Someone try and make a defense of that. Go on, I'll wait.

No.

[Maestro267]

Got a box of most of the chamber music outside of the string quartets today. Starting off with the Piano Trio No. 1 and it's gorgeous! So full of Dvorakian life and vitality!

[Scion7]

And then there's the insufferable 3rd String Quartet. Someone try and make a defense of that. Go on, I'll wait.

It's a trifle long, and won't compare with his later published quartets, but there are far worse things out there. It's atmospheric and has some nice passages. Just thankful it was 'found' as the composer thought he'd succesfully destroyed it.

[Madiel]

Got a box of most of the chamber music outside of the string quartets today. Starting off with the Piano Trio No. 1 and it's gorgeous! So full of Dvorakian life and vitality!

I see that was on my list of recommendations for "middle" Dvorak. It's right around the time I think he truly hit his stride.

What box is this?

[Maestro267]

I see that was on my list of recommendations for "middle" Dvorak. It's right around the time I think he truly hit his stride.

What box is this?

It's on Brilliant Classics but I'm not sure it's in print anymore. This is a secondhand copy.

I must say I am immediately enjoying these works. So far I've listened to the Piano Trio No. 1, String Quintet No. 3 and now Piano Quartet No. 1. The only major works missing in the set are the String Quintet No. 1 and the String Sextet, as far as I can tell.

[Jo498]

The quartets in the Brilliant box are presumeably with the Stamitz/Stamic quartet, but who's playing the trios?
I like the first 2 trios they are unfairly overlooked works (they are IMO much better than all the earlyish quartets). Even better and more unfairly looked is the first *piano quartet*.

[Maestro267]

https://www.discogs.com/release/2636874-Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k-Chamber-Music

[DavidW]

The quartets in the Brilliant box are presumeably with the Stamitz/Stamic quartet, but who's playing the trios?

No that is a separate box.  I used to own them both.  One for the SQs, another for everything else.

[Maestro267]

Stamitz are in this set, but playing the String Quintets with guests on double bass and 2nd viola respectively.

[Maestro267]

Filling in the listening gaps in the Dvorak chamber music boxes I got this year, and I'm enjoying the String Quartet No. 1 (Stamitz) way more than I thought I would.

[Mandryka]

Has anyone explored the 8th quartet? It was thought to be a late piece - Roberta Samsour in her book describes it as the start of Dvorak's final cycle of quartets. However I just saw that the notes to the Vogler recording say that people know now that it was not so late: the high opus number was a marketing trick to get people to think that it is close to his piano quintet - which is a good seller. (Originally Dvorak called it op 20)

Anyway, it seems as fun as any Brahms quartet to me!

[Brian]

Hmm, thanks for the suggestion, I don't remember listening to it in many years! Wikipedia says it is from 1876 - as far as I am concerned 1875 was the year where Dvorak "broke out" and became his mature self - and that it mixes major and minor keys in an ambiguous way. Time to try it.

(Edited to add: Dvorak's 1875 included the String Quintet No. 2 with double bass, first set of Moravian Duets, Piano Trio No. 1 and Piano Quartet No. 1, Serenade for Strings, and Symphony No. 5.)

[Madiel]

There is no "cycle" of  late quartets but it is frequently considered the first mature quartet. This does not mean a "late" piece, but it's the 8th out of 14.

[Madiel]

Any recommendations for recordings of the Symphonic Variations? I don't yet own one.

I know it probably comes as an attachment to symphonies. Everything does.

[Brian]

Any recommendations for recordings of the Symphonic Variations? I don't yet own one.

I know it probably comes as an attachment to symphonies. Everything does.

Kubelik and Kuchar are two very lively, characterful performances you can find outside of symphony sets!

[VonStupp]

The last three Symphonic Variations I listened to weren't attached to symphonies, though most likely due to repackaging. I might prefer Kertesz, but I can't say I did comparisons.
VS

Kertesz, Kubelik, Jarvi

[Madiel]

Well clearly Jarvi is out for not starting with K...

I will check all these out. Kubelik is of particular interest if he does the Legends well, because my existing version of those is a touch sleepy.

Edit: Oh, I see that coupling is only one version of how things were coupled...

[Jo498]

Yes, but the Kubelik 2fer might be the more attractive combination nevertheless as it is overall very good and the other pieces more relevant the the Legends although also more easily available (The legends with Kubelik were also a filler on a DG recording of a sacred piece, Stabat mater or Requiem, I think).

[Madiel]

Yes, but the Kubelik 2fer might be the more attractive combination nevertheless as it is overall very good and the other pieces more relevant the the Legends although also more easily available (The legends with Kubelik were also a filler on a DG recording of a sacred piece, Stabat mater or Requiem, I think).

I'll investigate both. I already have very good symphonic poems though (Harnoncourt).