Customer Reviews

Dvorak: Slavonic Dances

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have owned almost every incarnation of this recording, including one where the producer took out the repeats to get it on one lp! There was even a CD with four dances of contrasting type and key to make up a kind of "suite" that works very well. This is simply the best performance of this piece, with the Cleveland Orchestra becoming a Czech orchestra under George Szell, who knew how to do it! Every little turn, every little lift is executed perfectly, with the Orchestra leaning into the dance rhythms, ala Reiner in Chicago with Bartok. It is the difference between reading rhythms, and FEELING them. Szell and Dvorak (on records) go back to the 1930's (check out the Dvorak concerto with Casals, coupled with the New World on Dutton). The only drawback is the 1960's Columbia recording technique. There is never a true pianissimo. But I think the performance is helped by the dryness. You don't want a wash of sound. Don't think that you'll trade up from this budget CD. This is a "keeper".

It's hard to believe that I was the first to review this fine rendition of Dvorak's complete 16 Slavonic Dances.

The Cleveland Orchestra is at its best with Szell at the baton, and it has never been more obvious than on this release. Both discs are obviously played by people who love Dvorak and particularly his Slavonic Dances.

This wonderful two disc set would have rated a perfect five stars if it had better sonic balance. Some of the finer pianissimos are sadly lacking in ambience.

However, don't let this deter you from adding this wonderful set to your collection, especially at this price. The acoustics are nearly perfect, and enhances the orchestra's sound.

Highly recomnded to Dvorak fans, and recommended for classical music lovers everywhere.

George Szell did a fine job getting a rich, warm, almost Viennese tone, from his Cleveland Orchestra, and no where is it more apparent than in this still spellbinding set of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances. Admittedly the sound quality isn't up to par to recent recordings, but this is still an interpretation worth listening to, led by someone who truly had a great affinity for Dvorak's music. I doubt I have heard the Cleveland Orchestra's winds or strings play with such passion and lyricism. Without question, this was among the finest recordings made by the orchestra under the baton of Maestro Szell.

To iron-out Shota's review, this is not an all-American ensemblage: this by definition does not "rival European maestros" as Szell WAS an European maestro, being Hungarian. Importantly, his long-standing collaboration with probably the best US orchestra of that generation/crop, is the most wonderful reading of Dvorak's Complete Slavonic Dances. And importantly, for sensibilities of origins and extractions and nationalities, Szell is quite a mirror of Dvorak, having visited, moved to, sampled life in the US. That combination, European-extraction maestro and US master-orchestra, serves up the finest recording of the dances.

For a Czech reading of Czech Slavonics, to which the Shota's review alludes, one would need Rafael Kubelik's fine complete set on DG. This is available in a DG Trio 3cd box-set at very moderate price, coupling the complete two sets of Slavonic Dances with other important tone poems by Dvorak (although the best recording of the principal tone poems alone is that by Harnoncourt on Teldec). The Penguin Guide rates Kubelik's recording of the Slavonic Dances as 3*, but included in the DG Trio boxset as Key 3*.

However, Kubelik should only be sought after first acquiring this field-leading Szell recording. Note, this recording has been issued on pure (non-hybrid) SACD, but has not been incorporated into any "packages" of Szell (such as the grouping of his Dvorak symphonies 7,8,9) - so one can get this without fear of duplication, if after more Szell Dvorak (which will most likely be the case after hearing these). Further Szell Dvorak is recommended, starting with the 9th and following this with the 8th; the 7th under Szell is more rare on disc, and the weakest of the three last symphonies IMOH.

In conclusion, any collection of Dvorak should not be without this recording. Any collection of the Slavonic Dances should not be without this recording, whatever competitors may offer. And any beginner interested in Dvorak's music beyond the New World Symphony 9, should turn here for an exhilirating ride, with glittering expansive sound, and crisp, accurate execution. I purchased this on a visit to the USA as quickly as I could find it, for it's reputation preceded it, though Szell's excellence is wholly under-valued and under the radar in the UK - I've not stopped playing it since, and all those who have heard it in the UK have been very impressed. Buy without delay, and try sitting still, I defy you!

Reading the quibbles about this CD's sonic imperfections shouldn't lead anyone to think this disk features the dismal sound Szell usually got from Columbia. Sony somehow raised the sound quality miles above that. No, it's not quite state of the art, but Sony will do music a huge service if they remaster more of Szell's great recordings to this standard!

Szell opts for wide contrasts in tempo--so once in awhile, fast sections may seem a trifle rushed and slow passages a bit labored. On the whole, though, this just adds to the color of the performance.

Aside from the above, I agree wholeheartedly with the consensus of other reviews.

I have been a customer of [...] for years and I've never posted a review. I've purchased books, CDs, DVDs, software, electronics, cameras, and even bakeware. I've never complained and surely don't intend to start now.

I am also not a classical music expert, just a fan. I know there is some debate among Dvorak fans regarding conductors. Some say Kubelik; some say Kertesz. For the symphonies, I settled on Kertesz, (Dvorák: The Symphonies), and I love it.

But when it came to Dvorak's dances, Szell's leadership of the Cleveland Orchestra beats both other conductors, hands down. I just love listening to it.

In my opinion, the dances are much more lively and colorful compared to the more stale and march direction of Kubelik and Kertesz.

For all classsical music buffs, this CD is a must for your collection.

You can't really ask for much more.

The life in each dance is incredible. There is a whole world within each small segment, a world that comes alive with every listen. One can simply put this on as background music (for it is beautiful and well played), bounce along to it, or even just sit down and absorb every sound. There is something so satisfying about listening to these well recorded pieces.

In addition to the great music (Dvorak was a master, and these dances are just the tip of the iceberg), there's this incredibly friendly price. You're able to get an excellent recording of incredible repertoire (getting both sets of Slavonic Dances here) for an unbeatable price.

Yes.

The renowned figure of Georges Szell has always been regarded a better accompanist conductor (His overwhelming collaboration with Casadesus in the set of Mozart's piano concertos or his renowned job with Fleisher in both Brahms and Beethoven piano Concertos), for instance, rather than soloist conductor.Nevertheless, his egregious baton legated for the posterity some remarkable recordings. And this is truly, one of his most notable ones.

If it's certain these dances lack the vibrant histamine conferred by Talich with the Czech Philharmonic, we could affirm the Cleveland was probably who sounded idiomatically closer than any other American Orchestra, during the kingdom of his baton (I make this judgment before the arrival of the Boston with Rafael Kubelik since the seventies) .

Whereas, these performances are since its release cult recordings that must not be absent from your collection . These are major items of the historical memory.

George Szell and the Celeveland Orchestra combine to deliver one of the finest accounts of Dvorak's Slavonic dances around. Antal Dorati with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra and Rafael Kubelik with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra also are good choices in this area, but George Szell's account is by far the best. Its been more than a year since I got this disc, and as of this review I have yet to find a rendition of the Slavonic Dances that I enjoy more than George Szell's.

The Slavonic dances were some of Dvorak's most popular compositions and were largely written as stand alone works, so movements can be played individually. He drew some of his inspiration from Brahms Hungarian Dances, so if you like Brahm's Hungarian Dances, you may also enjoy listening to Dvorak's Slavonic dances.

This edition of Dvorak's is a great gem in my CD collection. The sound quality is superb, and all the tracks are played by the Cleavland orchestra with excellent precision. Another reviewer mentioned that this dick will not play in their car, I have not had this problem. This disk has been recognized by every player and computer I have put it into. With this CD you get all of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances for a great price. There is not much more that I can say about this. I highly recomend this wonderful CD to anyone who loves music.

Five stars.