Dvorak - Symphonies 6, 7, 8 & 9 - Talich & Szell

Antonín Dvořák

Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
(formerly No. 1)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Václav Talich

(Victor; recorded 1938 by HMV)

Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70
(formerly No. 2)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Václav Talich
(Victor, recorded 1938 by HMV)

Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
(formerly No. 4)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Václav Talich
(HMV, recorded 1938)

Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World"
(formerly No. 5)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / George Szell
(HMV, recorded 1937)

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The three Dvořák symphonies Václav Talich conducted 1938 in England belong to a handful of this listener's inexhaustible favorites. I've made previous transfers of these recordings over the years, some of which I've uploaded - but they always continue to demand my attention repeatedly over time. Every time I make a new version, they come more into focus and I discover new things in these magnificent performances. I honestly believe that these are my best efforts with these discs to date.

George Szell's tight, straightforwardly "simple" and unsentimental approach to the "New World Symphony" (recorded 1937) - especially regarding the celebrated Largo - preserves a sense of distance and mystery throughout the entire work. I've found these exact qualities in no other recorded performance of this symphony - at least, that I know of. I suppose what I'm talking about here is the "Romantic" element - and when one takes this view into account, other works of Dvořák come to mind - those with a story-telling aspect - such as the three Slavonic Rhapsodies, Op. 45. It's a different perspective on an otherwise over-played, over-familiar work.

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New restorations of the above 78 rpm material. Includes labels, etc.