Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Allegro
2. Adagio di molto
3. Allegretto
4. Finale, Allegro animato
5. Allegro
6. Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile

Disc 2:

1. Allegro feroce...L'istesso tempo
2. Allegro con brio...Poco meno mosso
3. Allegro con moto
4. Poco adagio
5. Scherzo, Allegro con brio
6. Finale, Allegro con fuoco

Disc 3:

1. Allegro moderato
2. Adagio molto
3. Finale, Allegro vivace
4. Alegro ma non troppo
5. Andante con moto
6. Scherzo, Allegro scherzando

Disc 4:

1. Finale, Allegro molto
2. Allegro non tanto
3. Adagio
4. Scherzo (Furiant), Presto
5. Finale, Allegro con spirito

Disc 5:

1. Allegro maestoso
2. Poco adagio
3. Scherzo, Vivace... Poco meno mosso
4. Finale, Allegro
5. Allegro con brio
6. Adagio
7. Allegretto grazioso
8. Allegro ma non troppo

Disc 6:

1. Adagio...Allegro molto
2. Largo
3. Molto vivace...Poco sostenuto
4. Allegro con fuoco

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101851 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-09
• Number of discs: 6
• Format: Box set

Customer Reviews

Still the Definitive Dvorak Symphony Cycle
Rafael Kubelik was one of our foremost interpreters of Dvorak and other great Czech composers such as Smetana and Janacek. His critically acclaimed 1960's Dvorak symphony Deutsche Grammophon cycle was reissued several years ago as a budget-priced collection. Although the price may still be a bit steep for some, it is still worth acquiring as one of the best Dvorak symphony cycles available; both Grammophone and Penguin classical CD guides still regard it as definitive. All of these performances with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra are lush, warm and brilliant; most notable are the exciting, lyrical accounts of the last three symphonies. Yet Kubelik's readings of the other symphonies are just as vibrant. Speaking of his account of the "New World" 9th Symphony, it remains one of the great performances, ranking alongside those I have heard from the likes of Abbado, Harnoncourt, Masur, and Maazel. If price is a major consideration, you may consider getting the two CD set which has Kubelik's readings of the last three symphonies; otherwise, by all means, you should acquire this fine collection of the entire Dvorak symphony cycle.

Great Cycle, Great Value
When I first started seriously collecting classical music, I tended to avoid box sets. As part of my classical music self-education, I wanted to buy recordings by various respected performers, conductors and orchestras in an attempt to understand how performances and styles differ. Of course, even back then I made some exceptions -- the Borodin Complete Shostakovich String Quartets, Rudolf Kempe's Complete Recordings of Strauss' Orchestral Works, Toscanini's Beethoven Symphony Cycle, and this Dvorak Cycle by Rafael Kubelik. My original reason for purchasing this title was threefold. First, I adored Kubelik's recording of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances on DG, so he seemed the perfect choice for Dvorak's Symphonies. Second, unlike Beethoven or Mahler, there were not numerous single-disc Dvorak symphony performances available, particularly for the early symphonies. Third, the value was and continues to be amazing. But if the music isn't good, then no matter how inexpensive the title is, it's no value at all. Well, rest assured these performances are amazing. For example, I still find this to be the single best performance of the 9th Symphony (From The New World), more magical than legendary accounts by Reiner, Szell, Fricsay and Paray. However, it was the early symphonies that were the initial treat for me -- particularly the 2nd and the 4th. If you are not prepared to purchase the cycle, you can always get the very same versions of the 7th, 8th, 9th and "The Wood Dove" on a DG two-fer, or the 8th and 9th on the DG Originals disc. But if you love Dvorak, the whole cycle is the one to buy.

Could be the definitive set
I recently, actually just before purchasing this set, received Vaclav Neumann's set with the Czech Philharmonic. A really good set to compare this one to. I also have had, over the years, different performances of the late symphonies with, Ormandy, Szell, Sawallisch, Walter and Carlo Maria Giulini. When it comes to lush sound and playing, nothing tops the Philadelphia Orchestra. It was the first time that I had a chance to listen, side by side, the 7th, 8th and 9th. But, I must say overall this set is truly magnificent. In fact Maestro Kubelik's reading of the 2nd symph. helped me to understand the work. Neumann, although wonderfully played by the Czech orchestra, somehow couldn't bring across the meaning of the work to me, along with the strings sounding like they were in another building somewhere.

To me, all of Dvorak's sympyhonies are a set of tone poems that are molded together through a cyclic theme that pops up here and there. They are all so beautiful and magical and powerful, yet seem to weave together into a beautiful whole that can be called a symphony.

My favorites used to be the 1st, 4th, 7th,8th and 9th. Now, because of the maestro's reading, the second and a deeper love of the fourth. Infact, I want to add that the second may be the composers best work. Very creative and spontaneous but beautiful and powerful at the same time. The slow movent of the fourth maybe one of the most beautiful slow movements of any symphony ever composed.

His readings of the 3rd, 5th, and 6th are superior also. In a critique I wrote for the Neumann set I said that the strings were so poorly miked that it took away from his readings and the Kubelik readings magnify this tremendously.

The Berlin Philharmonic is wonderful in this set. I wish DG would have recorded the other works with it. The recordings with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra are very good, but the viruosity of the BPO would have added even more to the performances.

This set is an absolute must have for any basic library of classical music, and a must have for any Dvorack lover, the most underated and underplayed composer of them all. I wonder how few know that Dvorak truly amazed Brahms and Brahms even published some of the symphonies for him.