Search - Antonin Dvorak, Theodore Kuchar, Janácek Philharmonic Orchestra :: Dvorák: Symphonic Poems; Overtures

Price and quality

Robert Mcgowan | Hatboro, Pa USA | 02/04/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is indeed a fabulous set of recordings. Kuchar is underrated but continually well represented on Cd. I agree with the previous reviewer,the Janacek Philharmonic may not be Vienna,Berlin or Philadelphia but they're a lot more exciting to listen to than those more well regarded bands. Nearly everyone of these performances is first rate and they seem to have been recorded at a very high level. This sometimes makes the performances sound a bit frenetic and noisy at times(Carnival Overture especially)but for the asking price of these three disks,you'd be a fool to pay more. Pretty boys like the overrated Rattle can't hold a baton to Kuchar in this or any other repetoire. Buy it before Brillaint Classics decides to raise the price."

A perfect Dvorak introduction

Eric S. Kim | Southern California | 04/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm pretty sure that most people out there recognize Antonin Dvorak only for his "New World Symphony" and his Slavonic Dances. But there's much more to this Czech composer that the symphony & two sets of dances, and it's evident here in this 3-CD set. The overtures and symphonic poems are the lesser known Dvorak, and they should be more appreciated since they capture much of his purely nationalistic emotions throughout.



Out of all his overtures, five of them are in this set: My Home, Husitska, Carnival, Othello, and In Nature's Realm. My favorite has to be In Nature's Realm, since it's very Smetana-like and very fluid. Carnival is very good; its catchy melodies can catch on almost immediately upon first listening.



In my honest opinion, I find the Czech Suite a bit tedious. I don't know, it seems very bland compared to all the other pieces. But the Polka and Finale do sound lovely.



As for the symphonic poems, I can say that they surely will NOT disappoint. From the eerie Wood Dove to the hypnotic Symphonic Variations, they're really a part of Dvorak's brilliance as a nationalistic music man.



Maestro Theodore Kuchar is a conductor who doesn't smooth over the tension nor does he exaggerate the energy. He never loses touch with the orchestral score, and never loses balance of any of the four instrument families. The Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra isn't your popular Berliner Philharmoniker, but it still never misses a step when it comes to drama and beauty.



I give this 3-CD set an A- (but only for the Czech Suite)."