Dvorak's Den

[Todd]

But to me they're now supplanted by Anne-Sophie Mutter, Manfred Honeck, and the Berlin Philharmonic, an all-superstar lineup of artists fully committed to selling it as a true high romantic masterpiece. Mutter commits to the hilt and Honeck, imo the best conductor alive, gets the orchestra to do the same.

It's a great recording, there's no doubt.  Hahn/Orozco-Estrada gives it a run for its money.

Fixed.

Indeed, Firkusny and Kahanek both amply demonstrate the work's quality.

[Cato]

The only one I find problematic is the PC. The VC and CC are both masterpieces --- though I give the edge to the VC, for the gloriously frolicsome finale.

Yes, certainly the performance we heard in Cincinnati with Julia Fischer fits that description.

Mrs. Cato and I heard the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra with Julia Fischer at a concert some years ago.

Here is Richter in 1966 with Smetacek conducting: some have said it is better than the recording with Kleiber.

Sound quality could be better, but...

I found a recording with Richter/Smetacek which has better sound than the videotaped one above:

[Florestan]

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Manfred Honeck, and the Berlin Philharmonic, an all-superstar lineup of artists fully committed to selling it as a true high romantic masterpiece. Mutter commits to the hilt and Honeck, imo the best conductor alive, gets the orchestra to do the same.

A few years ago during the Enescu Festival I heard Mutter playing Dvorak's VC with Honeck and the Pittsburgers. It was the most exhilarating concert experiences I've ever had. The finale, especially, was electrifying. She brought down the house, an almost 10-minute standing ovation in which I took part most enthusiastically.

Don't ask me what they played before and after that, I don't remember and I don't care. Mutter and Dvorak stole the whole show.

[Kalevala]

Mr Hurwitz's top recommendation for the piano concerto is Firkusny/Neumann (obliquely mentioned by @Brian ), and...

To my half asleep ears it's bloody good. I'm unlikely to get past the 1st movement right now, but I'll be coming back for sure.

The one that I have is with *Szell/Cleveland.  I remember reading (somewhere!) that the Neumann one wasn't as good (so I passed on buying it--even at a goodly discount).  It was also coupled with Robert Casadesus playing Weber.  It was a Naxos download which I purchased from PrestoC years ago (the only download that I've so far purchased).  I should revisit it.

I couldn't live without Dvorak's cello concerto.  One of my favorite classical works.    Some favorite recordings of it:  Fournier, Piatigorsky, Starker and (of course) Rostropovich.

And looking at the CDs that I put on my iTunes, I did see that I have Richter's recording (on EMI) of the piano concerto!  It's part of a boxed set that I bought ages ago of Richter's recordings.

K

[Kalevala]

The violin concerto is a work where the recording can really make the difference between "it's OK, one of his lesser works" and "it's one of his best." The Australian Chamber Orchestra version is pretty good if you want to support the home team. Josef Suk on Supraphon was the reference for a half century and has his family connection to the piece. Frank Peter Zimmermann has done it and I think Perlman too. But to me they're now supplanted by Anne-Sophie Mutter, Manfred Honeck, and the Berlin Philharmonic, an all-superstar lineup of artists fully committed to selling it as a true high romantic masterpiece. Mutter commits to the hilt and Honeck, imo the best conductor alive, gets the orchestra to do the same.

I have the Suk one and enjoy it.  Sounds like I'll have to see if I can find a way to listen to the Mutter one.

K

[Jo498]

I think the violin concerto is fairly robust.
Probably the first I heard was Stern? CBS/Sony that is quite "massive" and probably not the most idiomatic but still liked the piece as a relative beginner (not sure when I heard it, in my late teens or early 20s). And interesting feature is that all three movements are almost equally long which is rather uncommon in 19th century concertos.

[DavidW]

I think the violin concerto is fairly robust.
Probably the first I heard was Stern? CBS/Sony that is quite "massive" and probably not the most idiomatic but still liked the piece as a relative beginner (not sure when I heard it, in my late teens or early 20s). And interesting feature is that all three movements are almost equally long which is rather uncommon in 19th century concertos.

Yes, and Stern was my introduction as well from this recording:

The entire CD is just amazing, one of my all time favorites!

[Cato]

Allow me to recommend a performance form 1967 with Jacqueline Du Pre and S. Celibidache:

[kyjo]

The violin concerto is a work where the recording can really make the difference between "it's OK, one of his lesser works" and "it's one of his best." The Australian Chamber Orchestra version is pretty good if you want to support the home team. Josef Suk on Supraphon was the reference for a half century and has his family connection to the piece. Frank Peter Zimmermann has done it and I think Perlman too. But to me they're now supplanted by Anne-Sophie Mutter, Manfred Honeck, and the Berlin Philharmonic, an all-superstar lineup of artists fully committed to selling it as a true high romantic masterpiece. Mutter commits to the hilt and Honeck, imo the best conductor alive, gets the orchestra to do the same.

Totally agreed - Mutter/Honeck/Berlin treat the Dvorak VC as a truly great work (which it is!) - it's a remarkably dramatic performance, some might say too much so at the expense of the work's more folksy/lyrical side. But I find it very effective!