Notes and Editorial Reviews
There have been three unambiguously great Dvorák symphony cycles: Kertesz (Decca), Kubelik (DG), and this one (Philips, now Decca). Although it has traditionally received less attention than the other two, owing to the unfamiliarity of the conductor's name in the West, Witold Rowicki's remains arguably the finest set of them all. It has no weak performances. Like Kertesz, it features the LSO, observes all movement repeats, and makes no cuts in the First Symphony. Unlike the Kertesz recordings, the sonics are notably warmer and more flattering to the strings without in any way minimizing the critical contribution of the winds. Rowicki's interpretations are swift, energetic, and rhythmically snappy--all of a piece from one work to the
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next. Several performances, including Symphonies 3-5, never have been bettered, and these versions of the late works are uniformly excellent. So are the four overtures. It may be that Decca has released this set at budget price in order to keep the more famous Kertesz set as the "premium" option. So much the better for you. This is a mandatory acquisition for anyone who loves Dvorák.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Symphony no 1 in C minor, B 9 "The Bells of Zlonice" by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1869; Bohemia
2.
Symphony no 2 in B flat major, Op. 4/B 12 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1865; Bohemia
3.
Symphony no 3 in E flat major, Op. 10/B 34 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1873; Bohemia
4.
Symphony no 4 in D minor, Op. 13/B 41 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1874; Bohemia
5.
Symphony no 5 in F major, Op. 76/B 54 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1875; Bohemia
6.
Symphony no 6 in D major, Op. 60/B 112 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1880; Bohemia
7.
Hussite Overture, Op. 67/B 132 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1883; Bohemia
8.
My Home Overture, Op. 62/B 125a by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1882; Bohemia
9.
Symphony no 7 in D minor, Op. 70/B 141 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1884-1885; Bohemia
10.
Symphony no 8 in G major, Op. 88/B 163 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1889; Bohemia
11.
Symphony no 9 in E minor, Op. 95/B 178 "From the New World" by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893; USA
12.
Carnival Overture, Op. 92 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1891; USA
13.
Othello Overture, Op. 93 by Antonín Dvorák
Conductor:
Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1891-1892
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Stellar Performances by the LSO March 10, 2013
By M. Bishop (Clackamas, OR) See All My Reviews
"Rowicki and the LSO do a stellar job of interpreting these symphonies by Dvorak. Their performance of the Ninth Symphony is worthy of note, along with their outstanding renditions of the other eight symphonies, which probably aren't so well-known. I recommend these selections to those seeking to round out their Dvorak library, as well as to those who are ardent fans of the LSO."
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