Head-Fi.org › Forums › Misc.-Category Forums › Music › Dvorak New World Symphony, holy crap!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Dvorak New World Symphony, holy crap!

post #1 of 22
11/24/05 at 12:53am
Thread Starter 
Wow! I just got done listening to it for the first time, just bought it on sacd and I don't even have an sacd player but the quality was still amazing especially considering it was recorded in 1957. But this piece just blew me away, thanks for all the recomendations. Now I will start on my Mahler complete Symphonies (Bernstein) and go in order. I thank the Lord this year a thousand times over for blessing me with ears and such music to hear.
album info: sacd Living Stereo, Fritz Reiner with Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
I think I might have to check out some other Dvorak now.
Reply
post #2 of 22
11/24/05 at 1:07am
Wow - I envy the fact that you have never heard what you are about to hear. Enjoy!
Reply
post #3 of 22
11/24/05 at 3:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloud Strife
Wow! I just got done listening to it for the first time, just bought it on sacd and I don't even have an sacd player but the quality was still amazing especially considering it was recorded in 1957. But this piece just blew me away, thanks for all the recomendations. Now I will start on my Mahler complete Symphonies (Bernstein) and go in order. I thank the Lord this year a thousand times over for blessing me with ears and such music to hear.
album info: sacd Living Stereo, Fritz Reiner with Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
I think I might have to check out some other Dvorak now.
That's awesome! Yes, the Dvorak 9th is one of the true greats of all time. I'd definately suggest checking out the 8th, my favorite recording is conducted by Rafael Kubelik.

So have you had any experience with Mahler? If this is your very first time, then you are in for a real treat, and hopefully even more.. for me discovering Mahler was a life altering journey.

-jar
Reply
post #4 of 22
11/24/05 at 11:48am
Dvorak is a lot of fan. Find his chelo concerto: you'll enjoy it
Reply
post #5 of 22
11/24/05 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fjf
Dvorak is a lot of fan. Find his chelo concerto: you'll enjoy it
Yes, the Dvorak Cello Concerto is a very fine piece. I have the Living Stereo SACD with Piatgorski, but as I understand you don't yet own an SACD player, I'd be tempted to go straight to DuPre with Barbirolli conducting. Barbirolli was a cellist and he and DuPre add much emotion to it. Both recordings are well worth it and I'm sure there are others of distinction.
Reply
post #6 of 22
11/24/05 at 2:36pm
It's possible that Dvorak is the most agreeable composer ever. No one really dislikes his music, and he is not an alienating composer. People can be fiercely opinionated about Mozart, Mahler, Beethoven, Brahms and the gang. But not so with Dvorak. It's just really high quality music, great tunes, perfectly harmonized and orchestrated. Great stuff. I recal my first encounter with the New World, also the Reiner recording. It was much, much newer then.
If you like it, do try the 8th and 6th. There are many fine recordings and few duds. But, if you really like the New World, try the tone poems. The Jarvi set on Chandos is excellent, and so are the Naxos versions. Exciting, atmospheric music.
And whatever you do, get the complete Slavonic Dances in the orchestral versions (Szell is fine).
Reply
post #7 of 22
11/24/05 at 5:18pm
I am rather fond of the New World symphony, and am glad that you have discovered. The Kubelik DGG recording is my first choice. He did an earlier one for Decca, but it lacks the intensity and quality the later outing has. Also, don't overlook Harnoncourt's recent Teldec release.

It is hard to dislike Dvorak or the New World, but don't let the overplay spoil it. It is tremendously engaging, and just a lot of fun.
Reply
post #8 of 22
11/24/05 at 6:31pm

Don't forget Dvorak #7

One of my favorites is Dvorak's Symphony #7. The best of both worlds just might be Libor Pesek/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Virgin VC790756. Both Dvorak's 7th and 8th are on one disc. The orchestra sounds great... as sweet a string sound as I've ever heard and is well captured by the producers.
Reply
post #9 of 22
11/24/05 at 6:41pm
The New World Symphony was the first piece of classical music that drew me into this genre and it's still one of my top favourites today. A real masterpiece and I just absolutely love it. I also heartily second the Kubelik recommendations on DG. I have now 5 versions of the 9th and 8th symphony and Kubelik is still top of the heap in my book. The recording quality is also surprisingly good if you get the DG Classics double CD (with the blue cover).

For cello concerto, I used to like Karajan/Rostropovich a lot but I much prefer Szell/Fournier now (both for the cello and orchestra part). I believe that the Dvorak cello concerto is one of the best cello concertos in existence.
Reply
post #10 of 22
11/25/05 at 11:35am
I just saw this review of the Cello concerto the other day.



In addition there is also this coupling of the Cello Concerto in A with other pieces including the Slavonic Dances.



Both recordings have been given the coveted 10/10, so I'm sure they will be on the display at Tower.
Reply
post #11 of 22
11/26/05 at 4:24am
I just picked up the DG Kubelik 8th and 9th disc tonight, having never heard those particular symphonies before. After picking my jaw up off the floor, I have to concur: Holy crap! I'm only so knowledgeable about classical music at the moment, but the intensity and seemingly perfect pacing (I haven't heard other versions, but this was breathtaking), coupled with great melody lines and harmonies, makes it instantly accessable to even a Philistine like myself. I love it!

-Doug-
Reply
post #12 of 22
11/26/05 at 4:47am
I'm also one of those folks that generally considered classical music to be, well, dreary or marchy. This thread reminded me that I needed to check my Supermini-3 out with No. 9. Even better than I remember it .

I aught to get some more recordings of it.
Reply
post #13 of 22
11/27/05 at 1:40pm
My favorite Dvorak recordings:

Sym #9-- Dohnanyi/Cleveland Orchestra (Decca), with Harnoncourt/Concertgebouw Orch following up closely. The Kubelik on DG still holds up well, too, after all these years. Other classics: Szell, Reiner.
Sym #8-- Harnoncourt/Concertgebouw Orch (Teldec/Warner), although Dohnanyi's 8th isn't far behind, and Dohnanyi's daredevil coda is not to be missed. Classics: Szell, Barbirolli, Karajan/VPO, Walter.
Sym #7-- Dohnanyi/Cleveland Orch (Decca). Classics: Barbirolli, Monteux.
Sym #6-- Kertesz/LSO (Decca). Dohnanyi is also good here.
Sym #5-- Kubelik/BPO (DG)
Sym #4-- Kertesz/LSO (Decca)
The first three symphonies have never really grabbed my attention, so I haven't compared versions.

Scherzo Capriccioso-- Dohnanyi, Barbirolli, or Vernon Handley (Chandos)
Othello-- Abbado/BPO (DG)
Carnival Overture-- Reiner/CSO or Handley/Ulster Orch
In Nature's Realm-- Handley/Ulster Orch
The Noon Witch-- Harnoncourt/RCO
The Water Goblin-- Harnoncourt/RCO
The Wood Dove-- Harnoncourt/RCO

Mark
Reply
post #14 of 22
12/16/05 at 11:21pm
I like Dvorak's serenade for strings and for woodwind - link points to Amazon's search page for these, Amazon may provide clips for some of the recordings.
Reply
post #15 of 22
1/10/06 at 1:04am
The youth orchestra I'm in right now (I'm a senior in HS) just started playing NWS for our upcoming concert. It's the first time I've been exposed to this piece, and wow, what a piece it is!! I'm SO looking forward to playing this in concert.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Music
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Misc.-Category Forums › Music › Dvorak New World Symphony, holy crap!