Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 7,8, & 9 New World

Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Colin Davis (Conductor), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Orchestra), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Colin Davis
• Composer: Antonin Dvorak
• Audio CD (October 12, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000416E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,528 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Allegro maestoso

2. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Poco adagio

3. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Scherzo (Vivace)

4. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Finale (Allegro)

5. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Allegro con brio

6. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Adagio

7. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Allegretto grazioso

8. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Allegro ma non troppo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Seventh, September 25, 2003

By 

Frank C. Adams (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 7,8, & 9 New World (Audio CD)

I have to admit that I think Dvorak's Seventh is not only his greatest symphony but one of the greatest by any composer. I have many versions (Kubelik, Rowicki, Giulini, etc.) and have heard it in concert many times (Davis, Haitink, Fischer etc.) but this interpretation is for me the standard. It has the unique combination of urgency, spontineity and a nationalistic spirit not unlike Davis' Sibelius/BSO cycle of the same era. Dvorak, unlike Brahms, seems to allow, even invite, a wide range of interpretation, and virtually all the CD performances offer illumination of the many aspects of this work, but Davis, with great playing and sound, is at the top. The two other symphonies, which have their moments, and the Symphonic Variations 'encore' make this one of the great CD bargains.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 Stars for the 7th, March 14, 2001

By 

alzo (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 7,8, & 9 New World (Audio CD)

If you are looking for a great 7th then this is the best I have heard, good pace, great rhythm and flow and very beautiful, it has a fresh and direct feel to it. The 8th is average and the 9th is very disappointing, so do not buy this if you are looking for a good all-round set or first Dvorak set. Dohnanyi's Cleveland performances are all magnificent with excellent sound, warmer recordings than Davis - particularly the 9th.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this, but. . ., January 19, 2001

By 

Gregory M. Zinkl (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 7,8, & 9 New World (Audio CD)

Davis is a matter-of-fact interpreter of these wonderful scores.

The seventh is the best of the lot, but, there are a lot of good sevenths out there; Dohnanyi is not to be missed with the unpareiled Cleveland in terrific sound. His eigth is very exciting, if a little emotionally more remote; however, compared to Davis, it's terrific. Neither can compare to the genius of Walter's recording with Columbia Sym on Sony, though.

The ninth here is absolutely nothing special, at all. Again, Dohnanyi gives you a better deal, but so do so many others: Stokowski (RCA), Slatkin (Telarc), Kertesz (Vienna, London), Neumann (various), etc. etc.

You do get wonderful playing from the Concertgebouw, and although the engineering is fine, I could never warm up to it.

For twice your money, you can probably buy Kertesz's complete set. I wish I had done that!