Notes and Editorial Reviews
With Masterworks Heritage titles going out of print rapidly, it's good to know that Sony has elected to repackage this landmark set in regular jewel-box format. George Szell's Dvorák performances feature his customary blend of razor sharp orchestral discipline allied to a wholly idiomatic, singing line. Even more interesting, he takes numerous liberties with Dvorák's orchestration in the Seventh Symphony, reinforcing the violins and woodwinds with horns at several points in the outer movements. Some of his interpretive touches, such as the pianissimo reprise in the Eighth's third movement, have even become performance "traditions", reappearing in many subsequent readings by other artists. In short, you
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won't find a more authoritative, urgently exciting, well-played collection of Dvorák's last three symphonies at any price. The remastering has been managed with great care and is wholly successful. This is particularly gratifying with respect to the mono items, which include the Bartered Bride Overture and Szell's own surprisingly colorful and uninhibited orchestration of Smetana's First Quartet. Indispensable!
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Symphony no 7 in D minor, Op. 70/B 141 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1884-1885; Bohemia
Date of Recording: 3/1960
Venue: Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 35 Minutes 34 Secs.
2.
Carnival Overture, Op. 92 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1891; USA
Date of Recording: 1/1963
Venue: Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 9 Minutes 18 Secs.
3.
Bartered Bride, B 143/T 93: Overture by Bedrich Smetana
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Written: 1866
Date of Recording: 3/15/1958
Venue: Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 6 Minutes 16 Secs.
4.
Quartet for Strings no 1 in E minor, T 116 "From my life" by Bedrich Smetana
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1876; Czech Republic
Date of Recording: 4/26/1949
Venue: Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 27 Minutes 54 Secs.
Notes: Orchestrated: George Szell
5.
Symphony no 8 in G major, Op. 88/B 163 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1889; Bohemia
Date of Recording: 1958
Venue: Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 35 Minutes 38 Secs.
6.
Symphony no 9 in E minor, Op. 95/B 178 "From the New World" by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893; USA
Date of Recording: 3/1959
Venue: Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 39 Minutes 39 Secs.
Sound Samples
III. Scherzo. Vivace - Poco meno mosso
Carnival Overture, Op. 92
Overture to the Bartered Bride
I. Romantic longing, and foreboding of misfortune: Allegro vivo appassionato
II. The merriment of youth; my love of dancing and dance music: Allegro moderato alla Polka
III. Memories of the happiness of my first love: Largo sostenuto
IV. Joy in discovering how to treat Bohemian national elements in music; the catastrophe of deafness, reminiscences of happier days, and resignation: Vivace - M
III. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace
IV. Allegro ma non troppo
I. Adagio - Allegro molto
III. Scherzo: Molto vivace
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