Symphony No.9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World': 1. Adagio - Allegro molto
Symphony No.9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World': 2. Largo
Symphony No.9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World': 3. Molto vivace
Symphony No.9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World': 4. Allegro con fuoco
Slavonic Dances Op. 46, No.1 in C major: Presto
Slavonic Dances Op. 46, No.3 in A flat major: Poco allegro
Slavonic Dances Op. 46, No.8 in G minor: Presto
Many of Leonard Bernstein's late recordings offer new and interesting insights into the music, but this is one of the exceptions. Lenny's first recording, released at mid-price on Sony, is preferable in every way to this e... more »xaggerated, lumpish performance with its interminable slow movement. Not only is the interpretation unconvincing, the recorded sound is very boxy and constricted--much worse, in fact, than Lenny's earlier recording from the '60s! A big disappointment. --David Hurwitz« less
Many of Leonard Bernstein's late recordings offer new and interesting insights into the music, but this is one of the exceptions. Lenny's first recording, released at mid-price on Sony, is preferable in every way to this exaggerated, lumpish performance with its interminable slow movement. Not only is the interpretation unconvincing, the recorded sound is very boxy and constricted--much worse, in fact, than Lenny's earlier recording from the '60s! A big disappointment. --David Hurwitz
"What an unsophisticated recording! It's also pretty far from the perfectionist's performances, but Bernstein tends to perform rather differently and works at his own sleeves. The 1st movement is performed with much dynamics compared to most other conductors. The climax is especially thrilling, with the strings playing tremendously. The 2nd movement is very awkwardly slow, but I believe Lenny's recording with the Isreal Phil is one of the most gentle one I have ever heard. The 3rd movement is performed rather very quickly and crisply, for such an aging conductor. The 4th movement, is the least with Lenny however. The brass are not bold and spectacular as the ones from Chicago Symphony Orchestra or the Berlin Phil. But overall, I rate this movement good too, since the strings are great and quite awesome.I simply bought this CD for the slow "Lenny-ish" 2nd movement. Most conductors performs beautifilly and slow, but Lenny's is even more slower and more beautiful, so you should definitely listen to Lenny's performance with the orchestra!"
Interesting, but hardly top notch
André Hansson | Malmö SWEDEN | 10/27/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Bernstein treats this performance of Dvorák's Ninth like he did his second Mahler cycle. Extreme tempi is all over it(the Largo stretches past 18 minutes!!), and while this can be an interesting experience and deserves to be listend to at least once, this recording is probably best regarded as a curiosity. Also, the Israel PO doesn't seem to be in top shape and the sound quality is somewhat muffled. If you already have a few recording of this symphony and want something (very) different, this one might be for you, otherwise go for another recording, like Kubelik and the Berlin PO or the new recording by Harnoncourt and the Royal Concertgebouw."
In my view one of the most magical musical experiences I've
G.D. | Norway | 12/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is probably the most controversial reading of Dvorak's ninth of all time, and I have no difficulties seeing what listeners might find objectionable. In my view, however, this is one of the greatest recordings of anything, ever, and is worthy of comparison with Karajan's Mahler 9, Furtwängler's Beethoven 9 or Kleiber's Beethoven 5 or 7. But I am biased - this was the release that really got me hooked on classical music as a kid, and I've treasured it ever since. It'll never be a first choice for the symphony - it is too idiosyncratic for that - but should be savoured as a special experience, and according to myself one of the most magical musical experiences to be had, period.
It is, as far as I know, the slowest version on disc, breaking the 50 minute mark; yet it sports what is, I think, the fastest scherzo of them all. But the scherzo is the least satisfying movement, sounding sprightly vital and fiery, but a little over-hurried; the best, on the other hand, is the Largo, drawn out to a ridiculous-sounding 18'22 but transforming one of the most beautiful symphonic movements of all time into something of a completely different order - transcendentally heavenly and profoundly moving, breath-takingly gorgeous and painfully poignant - take the wistful secondary theme with the cor anglais solo, for instance, which is here almost unbearably moving. Not for a moment does it sound too slow, just shimmeringly, mesmerizingly still and reflective with a dramatic undercurrent.
The outer movements are also slow, but they certainly don't sound that way. In fact, I would never have guessed if I hadn't checked the timingss - I've never heard these movements played with such verve and drama or frenzied urgency anywhere else, with the fourth movement almost out-Mahlering Mahler. It is over the top, indeed, but ravishingly and purposively driving towards and inevitable climax in one long dramatic crescendo the likes of which I seriously doubt exists anywhere; smolderingly intense, scaling the pinnacles and abysses of human experience but keeping an unwavering view of the singular argument (which might or might not have been there in the score itself). Electrifying. The timings for the first movement are also partially due to the dangerously slow - lugubrious, even - opening adagio (it is fire and lightning from there); but the molto allegro part is riveting, with Bernstein exploiting the widest possible dynamic ranges to exhilarating effect.
The Israel Philharmonic plays wonderfully throughout, and the whole endeavour is underpinned by detailed, opulent and dynamic sound - but a little bass-heavy at times, I think. The magnetism of the symphony is somewhat lacking in the three live Slavonic dances, and as opposed to what the case is with the symphony they sound dangerously relaxed even if many of the orchestral details are beautifully realized. In any case, this recording provides - at least in my view - a musical experience like nothing else; not the ultimate version of Dvorak's ninth symphony per se (for that, go for Ancerl or Kubelik or something) but it is indeed one of the most marvelous, most special discs ever released."
Idiocyncratic, but still valid
Yi-Peng | Singapore | 08/08/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I know many listeners not warm to the idiosyncrasies of Lenny's late recording of the Dvorak New World. However, this rendition of the work has merits of its own. Lenny's performance unearths tensions in the work that often tend to be buried in most renditions. As such this performance is just as valid as Kubelik, Kertesz, Harnoncourt and even Abbado.
The make-or-break factor in this performance is the extremely slow rendition of the Largo. To many people, it sounds like an act of over-indulgent sacrilege that makes porridge out of the music. Lenny's rendition takes 18 minutes as opposed to 13. However, to other listeners, this ultra-slow rendition offers us listeners a deep, brooding and meditative quality that fits in with the homesickness that Dvorak felt when he wrote this music. Elsewhere, the performance is just fine, except that I quibble about the boomy, muddy sound quality that clouds the tuttis. Lenny's rendition of the first movement is a perfect balance between propulsive drive and gentle lyricism, except with the tension coming out on top. The third movement is taken at a brisk speed, and the finale ably holds all the elements that have made the music together and crown the performance. One can hear the drive in this movement despite the slightly slower (and somewhat sluggish) speeds here, but at least we listeners are able to hear the tensions in the work. This CD comes with lively renditions of three Slavonic Dances that seem to fare better here and please more listeners.
In short, I know that despite the mannerisms of the performance, Lenny's rendition still offers something valid about the music. It's true that this may not be a first choice, but the insights of this version are well worth experiencing."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1
