Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8

Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Myung-Whun Chung (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Myung-Whun Chung
• Composer: Antonin Dvorak
• Audio CD (August 8, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00004SDO3
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,927 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Brahms was the abiding influence on Dvorák, particularly in his symphonies. But part of Dvorák's genius was his ability to let native folk melodies from various Czech and Slavic sources determine the course of his symphonies. The structuring might be Brahms, but the guts are all Dvorák. You can still hear Brahms in both these two popular symphonies, but only in the framework. Conductor Myung-Whun Chung expertly (and lovingly) shapes the rich melodic lines in such a way that, especially in Symphony no. 8, Brahms becomes a mere specter lurking in the background. Both works contain memorable themes and native melodies and both works rank among the best examples of symphonic romanticism. These are excellent performances and the Deutsche Grammophon sound is superb. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How is the Sixth Symphony Overlooked So Often?, April 23, 2001

By 

Trevor Gillespie "sol_man" (San Jose, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8 (Audio CD)

I fell in love with the sixth symphony when I bought the Dvorak symphony cycle by Kubelik. I loved it even more when I bought the Kertesz set on London. I also bought another recording of it, but with each performance I felt that the conductor was restraining the orchestra and not allowing the symphony to fully expand. This is not the case with the performance by the Vienna Philharmonic with Myung-Whun Chung at the helm. Chung leads this symphony just like it is one of the last three Dvorak symphonies. The result is an experience leaving you with the confusion as to why this symphony is not in the regular repetoire alongside 7, 8, and 9. As usual, the Vienna strings are gorgeous. The sound is crisp and detailed (although recorded at a slightly lower volume than most DG records). Tempi are well judged and the climaxes are allowed full breathing room which in my opinion really lets the symphony shine like it hasn't before.

The 8th Symphony has always been a very favorite of mine in the symphonic repetoire. With its very hummable melodies and terrific finale, it never ceases to impress me as one of the truly fun and great symphonies. Owning six different recordings of this symphony has helped me discern what I like in this symphony over what I don't like. This recording ranks up among my favorites. Particularly, the finale. The french horns are allowed to shine in this movement and they are some of the finest french horn players you'll hear on record.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dvorak Conductor not to be Overlooked, March 3, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8 (Audio CD)

Myung-Whun Chung may not be the first conductor's name that comes to mind for devotees of Dvorak's symphonies, but this recording with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra should change that. Rarely has a conductor found the sunniness and refreshing folk rhythms inherent in Dvorak as has Chung.

The Symphony No. 6 in D major was first published as No. 1 and in many ways it is the most luminous of the cycle. Here Chung uncovers all of the joy and lilting romanticism the '6th' contains. It is a joyous reading. And the same can be said of the Symphony No. 8 first published as No. 4. This is mature Dvorak fully in control of his orchestral language, finding the balance between lyricism and folk melodies that make this one of Dvorak's most popular works.

And so it is a welcome addition to the Dvorak recordings to discover Myung-Whun Chung's masterly approach to these works. Recommended for the standard library of classics! Grady Harp, March 06

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Exciting!, July 16, 2009

By 

Karl W. Nehring (Ostrander, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8 (Audio CD)

This blisteringly good release crackles with musical excitement. Sometimes we get so familiar with the music of Dvorak that we tend to take it for granted, but Chung's exciting performance reminds us just what a wonderful composer Dvorak was. If you can listen to the finale of the 8th without jumping up from your chair either to dance or to conduct, then you must have been strapped down. The warm sound of the Vienna Philharmonic is well suited to this music, and their sound is captured well by the DG recording team.