Search - Antonin Dvorak, George Szell, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra :: Casals Plays Dvorák

Stunningly Vital Music Making

Timothy Dougal | Madison, Wi United States | 09/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Dutton disc contains the famous Casals performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto, conducted by a youngish (40) Geroge Szell leading the Czech Philharmonic in 1937, coupled with an incredibly lively 'New World' Symphony recorded by Szell and the same orchestra later that same year, after a whirlwind tour of England. The remastering is bright and clear for both performances, although the hall acoustics for the Casals piece are slightly better than than those at Abbey road for the symphony. The transfer is clean enough that a slight hiss can only be heard with in-the-ear headphones. As to the music, the performances blow me away. The cello is definitely front and center in the concerto, and Casals exercises every iota of his passionate technical mastery throughout the performance. The interaction between the soloist and orchestra is so lively it sometimes creates the impression of improvisation. The interactive vivacity continues in Szell's dynamic, detailed, rhythmically taut reading of the symphony, as the orchestra parts bounce off each other, each feeding off the others' energy. Szells attack is almost savage at times (he practically rips through the first movement in 8 and a half minutes), but he never betrays the grand romanticism of the work. Don't miss this one!"

Amazing vintage version of cello concerto, beautiful 9th

Dave92270 | CA, United States | 11/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my preferred and beloved version of Dvorak's Cello Concerto - recorded in Prague in April 1937; I very much enjoy the way the concerto is conducted and performed, with understanding and passion - the right amount of nostalgia, drama, sentiment and joy, the perfect pace; in my opinion (of amateur listener) the Adagio is incredible. I wonder if the possible tension and uncertainty of the period (Austria and Czechoslovakia were occupied by Germany the following year) had impact on the mood of the recording - maybe. I own the identical recording of the concerto on vintage LP, and I was very pleased to discover availability of this recording on the CD-ROM. If you don't mind the somewhat vintage sound, you should like this version, and the audio quality is great despite the age. I should add that I own another 3-4 performances of Dvorak's cello concerto, and this is the one I like to listen the most.



Album also contains Dvorak's Symphony No.9, again by George Szell and Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, but recorded in London later the same year (October 1937). That is very nice version too, although the album is worth the purchase for the cello concerto alone.

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One of the battlehorses of the maestro: Pau Casals!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 07/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Casals literally stole for himself the primacy in what concerns about how it must be performed. He got one of his major achievements with the wonderful rapport with Szell and the Czech Philarmonic in 1938. The others performers may fight for the second place but this recording has become in a standard issue : a model! Filled with inner force , lyricism and ravishimg commitment.
The New World is well played ,but there are more remarkable gladiators : Fricsay , Talich , Kertesz , Kubelik , De Sabata .
This is a must in your collection.
Don't think it twice."