Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "New World"

[Brian]

Karajan/VPO in DG's Karajan Gold series. The brass of VPO is insane.

Hope it's better than the Karajan/Berlin recording from the late 1980s. I loathe that disc - it gave me a bitter dislike of the Dvorak Ninth for years. When I finally acquired a box set of all the symphonies (Suitner's), it was with displeasure that I put on the Ninth, expecting to hate it, and then realized that the symphony was entirely something different! Karajan's performance was just angry and bombastic to me - like getting beaten up. To be fair, though, I haven't listened to it in at least a couple years. The scar was deep.

[val]

I would chose 4 versions:

Ancerl, with the CzPO, very dramatic in special in the last movement, with a remarkable balance and, as usual, an intense dynamic.

Fricsay, with the BPO, with one of the best versions of the Largo, that I ever heard.

Giulini, with the Philharmonia, powerful, dense, with dark colors. In the Largo he is the most deep and touching with Fricsay.

Toscanini, with the NBC. A furious dynamic, an articulation with his legendary perfection, but this version has little poetry and lyricism.

[Iago]

Here is a review from classicstoday.com. They seem to think it stinks.

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=1193

Well they're right. That disc DOES STINK.
But that's not the same performance as is contained on the" Europa Concert from Palermo" DVD.  The Palermo concert was done after Abbados cancer surgery, and the orchestra was playing for him with a heightened emotional response. The cd is a perfunctory studio job, with everybody seemingly just " putting in their time in a days work".

[Holden]

My three choices



and



and still my favourite

[head-case]

Hope it's better than the Karajan/Berlin recording from the late 1980s. I loathe that disc - it gave me a bitter dislike of the Dvorak Ninth for years. When I finally acquired a box set of all the symphonies (Suitner's), it was with displeasure that I put on the Ninth, expecting to hate it, and then realized that the symphony was entirely something different! Karajan's performance was just angry and bombastic to me - like getting beaten up. To be fair, though, I haven't listened to it in at least a couple years. The scar was deep.

Well, you've convinced me I need to have that disc, sounds like it might be even better than Karajan's late 70's effort with EMI.  That fact that hearing the NWS played properly would "scar" you is a bit bizarre, I must add.

Duh, I do have it.  It's coming back to me, not better than the 70's EMI, as I recall.

[MishaK]

I watched once that DVD and i remember it was impressive. i wonder if the disc presents the same material

No, that's not the same performance at all. I am talking about this one:



Also reissued thus:

[samtrb]

Fricsay, with the BPO, with one of the best versions of the Largo, that I ever heard.

absolutely true

[m_gigena]

No, that's not the same performance at all. I am talking about this one:

This one:


Dvorak: Symphony Nº 9 & overture from I vespri siciliani

http://rapidshare.com/files/59406233/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/59421022/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.002
http://rapidshare.com/files/59434013/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.003
http://rapidshare.com/files/59444736/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.004
http://rapidshare.com/files/59577484/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.005
http://rapidshare.com/files/59598494/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.006
http://rapidshare.com/files/59612232/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.007
http://rapidshare.com/files/59619001/Europakonzert.2002.Abbado.03.avi.008

[eyeresist]

Thanks to this thread, I am planning on buying two more boxsets (Neumann, Valek) to go with the four I already have! (Suitner, Kertesz, Pesek, Gunzenhauser)

BTW, I still haven't found an "ideal" 9th, but Barbirolli's was very good - surprisingly dark (but it's in E minor, after all).

[Brian]

Thanks to this thread, I am planning on buying two more boxsets (Neumann, Valek) to go with the four I already have! (Suitner, Kertesz, Pesek, Gunzenhauser)

BTW, I still haven't found an "ideal" 9th, but Barbirolli's was very good - surprisingly dark (but it's in E minor, after all).

Skip the Valek and get the incredible Anguelov set instead (great performances in brand-new digital sound). Anguelov, Suitner, and Kertesz should keep you covered for a very long time!

[hornteacher]

Skip the Valek and get the incredible Anguelov set instead (great performances in brand-new digital sound).

Strongly 2nd Brian's suggestion.  The Anguelov set is probably the best account of the first 6 symphonies available.  The 7-9 while not my favorite versions, are also incredibly good.

[DarkAngel]

I have very large Dvorak collection, this is the best overall 9th for me:



Kubelik has 3-4 very good recordings of 9th but this takes the palm, plus as good as the 9th is the 8th included maybe even better. Two great performances on one remastered mid price CD, essential.


Also for 2CD 7-9 sets the Kubelik is a top choice but also right at the top are Szell and Dohnanyi:




Or combine the Dohnanyi 7,8 with Kondrashin 9

[eyeresist]

Skip the Valek and get the incredible Anguelov set instead 

Sorry, I mistyped before!

[Sergeant Rock]

I have very large Dvorak collection, this is the best overall 9th for me:



Kubelik has 3-4 very good recordings of 9th but this takes the palm, plus as good as the 9th is the 8th included maybe even better. Two great performances on one remastered mid price CD, essential.


Also for 2CD 7-9 sets the Kubelik is a top choice but also right at the top are Szell and Dohnanyi:




Or combine the Dohnanyi 7,8 with Kondrashin 9

Yes, I second these nominations:  Kubelik, Szell, Dohnányi, Kondrashin. Dark Angel and I think exactly alike.

Sarge

[FredT]

3 great New World's:

1. Mackerras-Prague Symphony
2. Kubelik-Chicago
3. Szell-Cleveland

[hornteacher]

3 great New World's:

1. Mackerras-Prague Symphony

AMEN! 

[Toonces]

Dvorak's 9th symphony always reminds me of Thanksgiving.  It's become kind of a ritual for me to listen to it all morning while preparing Thanksgiving Dinner (or listen to it in the car if we're going to someone else's house.) 

I was thinking of getting another recording of it and wondered what everyone else thought was the best recording they've listened to?

[Scarpia]

Karajan/Berlin had a unique dark interpretation of the first movement.  His 1960's recording on Deutsche Grammophon and a 1970's recording on EMI have this quality.

[mc ukrneal]

Dvorak's 9th symphony always reminds me of Thanksgiving.  It's become kind of a ritual for me to listen to it all morning while preparing Thanksgiving Dinner (or listen to it in the car if we're going to someone else's house.) 

I was thinking of getting another recording of it and wondered what everyone else thought was the best recording they've listened to?

There are so many good ones. Mackerras and Kubelik come to mind with Toscanini as an historic choice. Oh, Fischer is another one, and Kertesz too. I've heard good things about Ashkenzay and Harnoncourt. There are probably several others I am forgetting. If you are interested in a set of all the symphonies, Rowicki, Kertesz or Suitner would all be good choices. If you have not heard the other symphonies, well - wonderful music.

[Opus106]

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,6604.msg154956.html