DVORAK, Antonin (1841-1904)
Concerto in b for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 104
Maisky, Pesek, Prague Sym. + Sym.9 (LD) Pionner PC-94009
Helmerson, Jarvi, Gothenburg Sym. + Silent BIS CD 245
Rostropovich, Karajan, Berlin Phil. + Tch.:Var. DG 447413
Starker, Susskind, Philharmonia + F.:Ele. (LP) Angel 35417
Made by EMI in 1956, Starker's was the first stereo
recording of this work in my collection and remains as one of the
best. It deserves to be released on CD.
Rostropovich made other recordings of this work before and
after, but this was the only to receive faultless engineering.
Helmerson's, the first digital recording I bought, has
unbeatable sound and impeccable playing.
The video, a live concert, shows an exciting performance by
Maisky and Pesek with very good digital sound (CD not available).
Avoid the Mercury recording by Starker and Dorati because
the sound is unpleasant and Dorati's accompaniment is a disaster.
Concerto in a for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 53
Midori, Mehta, New York Phil. + Romance + Carn. CBS 44923
Ricci, Susskind, St. Louis Sym. (All Con.) VoxBox CDX 5015
Suk, Ancerl, Czech Phil. + Suk:Fantasy Supraphon 110601
Midori leads the group with fine playing and state of the
art digital sound. Ricci follows in this very good bargain price
recording. Suk is the most exciting (he is Dvorak's grand-grandson)
but the recording is a bit rough.
Carnival Overture, Op. 92
Mehta, New York Phil. + Vln. Con. CBS 44923
Kertesz, London Sym. (part of a 6 CDs set) Decca 430046
Dvorak's Carnival demands a careful balance from the
engineers involved. Kevin Boutote for Mehta and Kenneth Wilkinson
for Kertesz were successful in their work.
Hussite Overture, Op. 67
Kertesz, London Sym. + Sym.3 (LP) Decca SXL 6290
(LP) London CS 6525
Rowicki, London Sym. + Sym.4,5,6 DUO Philips 446530
This important work, in my opinion, compares favorably to
Smetana's Tabor and Blanik that have the same patriotic origins.
Kertesz' recording was never released on CD. Rowicki's, that is
very similar, was as part of a DUO with the early symphonies.
Quartet No.12 in F for Strings, Op. 96 "American"
Smetana Qr. + Quintet Op.81 Denon C37-7338
Royal Phil. Ch. Ens. + Borodin:Qr. No.2 Tring TRP017
Two excellent digital recordings of this fine work.
Romance in f for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 11
Midori, Mehta, New York Phil. + Vln. Con. CBS 44923
Stern, Ormandy, Philadelphia Orch. + Vln. Con. (LP) MS 6876
Stern and Ormandy collaboration captured by a close
Columbia recording is one of that rare moments when everything
worked so well that is very hard to find a worth competitor. It is
shocking that Sony never released this recording on CD.
Midori and Mehta recording is the only competitor I found.
Scherzo Capriccioso for Orchestra, Op. 66
Kertesz, London Sym. (part of a 6 CDs set) London 430046
Kertesz, London Sym. + Sym.8 (LP) London CS 6358
+ Carnival;Othello;Amid London CS 6574
Kubelik, Bavarian Radio Orch. + Op.46 (LP) DG 2530466
This work and the Eighth Symphony were the only recorded by
engineer Arthur Lilley (from Phase Four project), starting the
first complete set of Dvorak's symphonies, in 1963 and finished
during the next three years by Kenneth Wilkinson. It is an exciting
piece, its sound an example of clarity and balance but was never
released on a single CD, and the equally brilliant recording
conducted by Kubelik was also never released on CD.
The easy to find EMI recording by Jansons is a disaster
that shall be avoided.
Serenade in E for String Orchestra, Op. 22
Schwarz, L.A. Chamber Orch. + Silent Woods Delos DCD 3011
Delos' recording shows the opposite of Karajan's (DG
400038) rheumatic playing and unclear sound in this work. It is the
kind of CD that after hearing I look no further.
Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 & 72
Adolph, Philharmonia Slavonica Tring SYM070
Dorati, Royal Phil. Decca or London 430735
Jarvi, Scottish Nat. Orch. Chandos 8406
Kubelik, Bavarian Radio Orch. DG 419056
Precious small gems that any music lover must have.
Kubelik's is the only analogue recording in this list. Adolph's is
the bargain one.
Symphony No.3 in Eb, Op. 10
Kertesz, London Sym. (part of a 6 CDs set) Decca 430046
Rowicki, London Sym. + Sym.1,2 DUO Philips 446527
Kertesz and Decca made us a great service by recording this
unfairly neglected work. It was made in 1966 by producer Ray
Minshull and engineer Kenneth Wilkinson in the Kingsway Hall, as
part of the first complete set of Dvorak's symphonies. The London
Symphony is unbeatable in all departments and so is the
engineering, making this my first choice.
Five years later Rowicki and Philips recorded it again with
the same orchestra, from a similar performance and an engineering
almost as good.
Sadly, Decca never released this work on a single CD, nor
did Philips, so I had to spend a lot of money with the undesirable
1st and 2nd symphonies.
The recording by Jarvi on Chandos is a flop where the
woodwinds fail badly in the 1st movement's recapitulation (Jarvi's
fault!) and the microphones are placed too far from the Orchestra,
spoiling the first digital set.
Symphony No.6 in D, Op. 60
Kertesz, London Sym. + Variations Decca or London 417598
Jarvi, Scottish Nat. Orch. + Noon Chandos 8530
The repeat in the 1st movement of this work includes some
of the most beautiful connecting notes, and is adopted by the
conductors in my list, who luckily disobey an indication Dvorak
added latter asking not to repeat.
Again, Kertesz is my first choice but this time Chandos
placed the microphones closer and Jarvi did his job right, so I
have a digital alternative.
Symphony No.7 in d, Op. 70
Colin Davis, Concertgebouw Orch. + Sym.8 Philips 420890
+ Sym.8,9 Philips 438347
Levine, Chicago Sym. RCA RCD1-5427
Maazel, Vienna Phil. + Sym.8 DG 429976
Three great recordings of this equally great work. Davis'
is the best performance and the only analogue here with a rich,
well balanced sound, and is coupled with a recommended 8th, or as
part of a DUO with the 8th and also a recommended 9th. Levine's, an
exceptionally good (for the new orchestra hall) digital recording
from RCA with razor sharp definition, is the most expensive -
without a companion work. Maazel's shows him at his best, and is
coupled with another recommended 8th.
Symphony No.8 in G, Op. 88
Karajan, Vienna Phil. (LD) Sony SLV 48420
+ Schumann:Sym.4 (CD) DG 431095
Colin Davis, Concertgebouw Orch. + Sym.7 Philips 420890
+ Sym.7,9 Philips 438347
Karajan, Vienna Phil. + Brahms:Sym.3 Decca or London 417744
Maazel, Vienna Phil. + Sym.7 DG 429976
Karajan recorded this work with the Vienna Philharmonic
twice: The first in 1964; the second in 1985, with images too. They
are superb and, with the exception of images, the lack of tape
noise is the only real plus in the new one. Recorded 21 years
before, the Decca recording made by producer John Culshaw and
engineer Gordon Parry in the Sofiensaal is one of the landmarks in
the history of recorded sound. Davis' analogue and Maazel's
digital, are also excellent.
Symphony No.9 in e, Op. 95 "New World"
Pesek, Prague Sym. + Cello Con. (LD) Pioneer PC-94009
Colin Davis, Concertgebouw Orch. + Sym.7,8 Philips 438347
Kondrashin, Vienna Phil. + Etc. Decca or London 448245
Solti, Chicago Sym. Decca or London 410116
Kondrashin's digital recording is my first choice. Davis'
analogue is second by a narrow margin. Solti's digital follows, and
Pesek's, digital too, is the only to omit the 1st movement repeat
and also the only video in my list (not available on CD).
For the gallery of engineering catastrophes there is the
recording of James Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony released
as RCA RCD1-4552 (CD) and ATC1-4248 (LP), where the brass have an
unbearable prominence and the sound is so ugly that makes it a
strong candidate for the position of worst recording ever made.
Also stay away from Maazel's recording on DG 410032 and DG 427805
where an annoying timpani resonance spoils everything.
DUKAS, Paul (1865-1935)
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Barenboim, Orch. de Paris + Etc. (LP) DG 2531331
Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops + Etc. Telarc CD 80115
This work became a definitive success after its use in the
soundtrack of Disney's Fantasia. Barenboim's recording is the best
box of candies but was not released on CD format yet.
DONIZETTI, Gaetano (1797-1848)
Lucia di Lammermoor - Opera (1835)
Sutherland, Cioni, Merril, Siepi, others,
Pritchard, Sta. Cecilia Acad. 2 CDs Decca or London 411622
An excellent cast performs this dramatic work, that has a
strong Italian flavor with plenty of melody. The recording was made
in 1961.
DEBUSSY, Claude (1862-1918)
Arabesques (2) for Piano (1888)
Pascal Roge + Children's + Suite bergamasque London 417792
Children's Corner Suite for Piano (1908)
Pascal Roge + Arabesques + Suite bergamasque London 417792
Alexis Weissenberg + Suite bergamasque DG 415510
Suite bergamasque for Piano (1905) includes Clair de Lune
Pascal Roge + Arabesques + Children's London 417792
Alexis Weissenberg + Children's Corner DG 415510
La Mer for Orchestra (1905)
Boulez, New Philharmonia + Prelude + Jeux CBS MYK 37261
Reiner, Chicago Sym. + R.-K.:Scheherazade RCA 60875
Thomas, Philharmonia + Nocturnes CBS MDK 44645
Nocturnes for Orchestra (Nuages, Fetes) and Chorus (Sirenes)
Abbado, Boston Sym. + Ravel:Pavane;Daphnis (LP) DG 2530038
Thomas, Philharmonia + La Mer CBS MDK 44645
Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (1894)
Boulez, New Philharmonia + La Mer + Jeux CBS MYK 37261
Solti, Chicago Sym. + Ravel:Bolero;Tombeau London 430344
Debussy's music does not survive to anything less than
first class engineering. Abbado's recording is a sad absence in the
CD format. These are the recordings of Debussy's music I recommend.
© Copyright 1998 Amilcar Schiappe Pereira End of section D