Customer Reviews

Dvorak: Slavonic Dances

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Dohnanyi's recording of Dvorak's "Slavonic Dances" is a treat for the ear. Both sets are recorded here, and the differences in Dvorak's writing between the two (written years apart) are apparent. Some of the later dances are more serious, a bit more elegant, while the earlier eight are bursting with passion and exuberance. My favorites are iv., v., and viii. in the first set, but they are all enjoyable. You might not want to listen to the whole recording in one sitting, as the Dances are all rather similar in format, but spread out a bit they are a joy. I can't really complain about Dohnanyi's conducting - the orchestra, Cleveland at its best, responds brightly, and the players sound like they're having a lot of fun with the music. The recorded sound is excellent, full and deep, and very warm. Lovers of cymbals will enjoy this recording as the high-end crashes come out loud and clear. Overall a very enjoyable and easily recommendable recording.

In my mind, Dohnanyi's legacy with the Cleveland Orchestra has been to resurrect and maintain the unmatched precision and virtuosity that became Cleveland's hallmark during the Szell years.

This delightful recording continues that tradition -- Cleveland's playing is clean and impeccably tasteful. But this disc also has a unique warmth to it, both in the quality of the recording and the performance of the orchestra. While I occasionally find Dohnanyi's interpretive style to be emotionally stunted, that's not the case with this recording. The Slavonic Dances are rendered with gusto. As clean and tight as Cleveland's playing is, their performance remains faithful to the happy, folksy underpinnings of Dvorak's music.

This is a clear, rich recording of the Cleveland Orchestra at the height of its modern power and prowess. Of the compact discs I own, it's one of my favorites.

By turns wistful and content, playful and serious, melancholy and exuberant, Dvorak's Slavonic Dances encapsulate his best qualities as a composer. And here's some good news: Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra deliver knockout performances that capture those qualities perfectly. Dohnanyi's detractors complain about his penchant for choosing hyper-fast tempi and interpreting without much inspiration; if he does indeed have those problems, neither is in evidence here. These are energetic, joyous, scarily precise performances of these amazing works. The Cleveland Orchestra combines its usual fastidious attention to detail with the most power and exuberance I've heard from it. The melancholy dances are pensive without being melodramatic, the tender dances are lyrical without being sappy, and the fast dances have a fiery energy that will floor you. What's more, Decca's superb recording techniques ensure crystal-clear sound--much more so than on the Telarc recordings of this same orchestra. In short, these are near-flawless performances of these multifaceted works, and certainly one of the absolute highlights in the already stellar careers of both this conductor and this orchestra. This is the only Slavonic Dances CD you'll ever need to buy.