Track Listing

1. Roumanian Rhapsody No. 2, for orchestra in D major, Op. 11/2
2. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 5 In G Minor
3. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 6 In D Major
4. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 7 In A Major
5. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 21 In E Minor
6. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 11 In D Minor
7. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 2 In D Minor
8. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 1 In G Minor
9. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 10 In F Major
10. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 3 In F Major
11. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 18 In D Major
12. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 17 In F-Sharp Minor
13. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 19 In B Minor
14. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 20 In E Minor
15. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 12 In D Minor
16. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 15 In B-Flat Major
17. Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1: No. 4 In F-Sharp Minor
18. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Theme
19. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 1
20. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 2
21. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 3
22. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 4
23. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 5
24. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 6
25. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 7
26. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Variation 8
27. Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a: Finale: Andante

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18470 in Music
• Brand: Philips
• Released on: 1993-02-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com
This is the finest performance of the complete Hungarian Dances. Antal Dorati, a Hungarian himself and a specialist in dance music, handles each of these jewels with just the right combination of rhythmic control and schmaltz. Brahms orchestrated only a few of them; the remainder were done by friends (Dvorák included) or commissioned by various music publishers to fill out the complete set. In this respect, they are less substantial than Dvorák's two sets of Slavonic Dances, which they in turn inspired. If you know only No. 5, or perhaps No. 1, then you owe it to yourself to hear this delightful collection. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Orchestrally excellent, excitingly up-tempo performances
This conductor gives one the sense, after listening to many of his recordings, that he has that special ability to energize a score. I bought the Mercury Golden Imports LP of these performances knowing I was in for a thrilling ride and I wasn't disappointed. It seemed like ages before the CD finally appeared and it really is one to treasure. Dorati knew that if one were to play this music it should be played for all it is worth. A really fun CD that proves one doesn't have to pay full price to get the best.

A real winner
In listening to this CD, I am amazed how crystal clear and dazzling the sound is, in spite of the fact that some of these recorings date from as far back as 1957 (the others are from 1960 and 1965). Kudos to recording engineer C. R. Fine. Dorati is obviously enjoying himself immensely in this music. In particular, he milks the Roumanian Rhapsody #2 for all it's worth. A must-have disc.

Sprightly
Dorati was the one of the few of the great Hungarian conductors of the last century to record a sizable chunk of Brahms's Hungarian Dances. Reiner recorded some in Vienna, and Ormandy recorded a few. Dorati just excels in this music. He is very definite as to the pacing he wants in this music. There is plenty of expression, almost too much in fact. The first eight of these numbers were recorded in 1957, and the sound is very good; but the second eight, recorded in 1965, offer absolutely stellar recorded sound, some of the best I've ever heard. As for the Haydn Variations, also recorded in 1957, this is one of the finest versions I've ever heard. Whether it's the sound engineering or Dorati's interpretation, all sorts of details I've never paid attention to before come through clearly in this rendition. The 1960 recording of Enescu's 2nd Romanian Rhapsody is exquisite. I have this track on an analog cassette. The string sound there is somewhat warmer than on the CD, but the CD's detail and dynamic range is just exceptional. This is one of the more treasurable issues in the Mercury Living Presence catalog.