Antonin Dvorak Bedrich Smetana George Szell - George Szell Dvorak Three Great Symphonies Symphony No7Symphony No8Symphony No9 (18 tracks) +Album Reviews

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Antonin Dvorak, Bedrich Smetana, George Szell
George, Szell, Dvorak: Three Great Symphonies ( Symphony No7;Symphony No8;Symphony No9)
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
1. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Allegro maestoso
2. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Poco adagio
3. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Scherzo, Vivace... Poco meno mosso
4. Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2): Finale, Allegro
5. Carnival (Karneval), concert overture, B. 169 (Op. 92)
6. Prodan? nevesta (The Bartered Bride), overture to the opera
7. String Quartet No. 1 in E minor ('Z m?ho, zivota,' 'From My Life'), JB 1:105: Allegro vivo appassionato
8. String Quartet No. 1 in E minor ('Z m?ho, zivota,' 'From My Life'), JB 1:105: Allegro moderato ? la Polka
9. String Quartet No. 1 in E minor ('Z m?ho, zivota,' 'From My Life'), JB 1:105: Largo sostenuto
10. String Quartet No. 1 in E minor ('Z m?ho, zivota,' 'From My Life'), JB 1:105: Vivace
Track Listings (8) - Disc #2
1. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Adagio
3. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Allegretto grazioso
4. Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4): Allegro ma non troppo
5. Symphony No. 9 in E minor ('From the New World'), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5): Adagio...Allegro molto
6. Symphony No. 9 in E minor ('From the New World'), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5): Largo
7. Symphony No. 9 in E minor ('From the New World'), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5): Molto vivace...Poco sostenuto
8. Symphony No. 9 in E minor ('From the New World'), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5): Allegro con fuoco

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CD Details

All Artists: Antonin Dvorak, Bedrich Smetana, George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra
Title: George, Szell, Dvorak: Three Great Symphonies ( Symphony No7;Symphony No8;Symphony No9)
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Original Release Date: 1/1/1958
Re-Release Date: 6/16/1998
Album Type: Original recording remastered
Genre: Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Romantic (c.1820-1910), Symphonies
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 078221460026

Synopsis

Amazon.com

George Szell's great musical hero was Toscanini, but the truth is that on any given day Szell was probably the better conductor. Of course, comparisons like this aren't fair, especially when so much of Szell's musical prime has been preserved in really good sound, which certainly isn't true of the great Italian conductor. But it's worth pointing out all the same, because all of Toscanini's best qualities are here. The razor-sharp rhythms, perfect orchestral balances, and, where required, stunning power of the orchestra are all placed in the service of Dvorák's magnificent music. The result is that the "interpretation" as such simply vanishes; you experience an inevitable, organic musical discourse. It's what all great conductors aspire to- -but for Szell, it was all in a day's work. Essential. --David Hurwitz

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Member CD Reviews

Barbara M. (Babe) from NEW YORK, NY
Reviewed on 6/9/2007...

Classic jazz disc in the heritage eries. Phyllis Hyman is one of the great voices. Beautiful.

CD Reviews

Another Great Heritage Release of Szell's Work

Paul Bunkerr | New London, CT USA | 03/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While Szell was conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, his name was closely associated with the music of Dvorak. Szell's recordings of the Slavonic Dances and the three "great" symphonies have been part of everyone's classical record library since they were released. These performances are beautifully captured in these re-mastered discs and the packaging by Sony is wonderful as usual. The orchestration of Smetena's "From My Life" is an interesting and effective period piece that shows Szell's total mastery of writing for orchestra. A great recording you should have in your collection! Too bad Sony has not released Szell's old Columbia recording of Dvorak's Piano Concerto!"

Worth it.

bruce horner | 08/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though Sony doesn't give you a break on price, these two discs are well worth the money. Superb renditions of Dvorak's 7th, 8th, and 9th symphonies and some extras (the Carnival Overture, the Smetana) plus great packaging. Old fans of this music tell me that the engineers have worked sonic wonders here; all I know is that it sounds good. Hard to believe that this is the first time this 7th has seen the light of day on CD, but there you have it."

Indispensable

J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 07/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sony has done well to reissue these recordings of Dvorak's best known and loved symphonies, given wonderful treatment by Szell and his well-drilled Cleveland Orchestra. These are recordings to treasure and hear again and again. Szell proves once again to be one of the finest Dvorak interpreters of the twentieth century. The lilting rhythym of the strings at the start of the second movement "Poco Adagio" of the Seventh symphony are really something to hear. The gorgeous, opulent string tone that dominates the third movement of the Eighth symphony can almost sweep you away in its beauty, and the furious rush to the end of the final movement is as amazing for the technical demands it must have placed on the players as it is for power to thrill. Here I am reminded that EMI has reissued Szell's other fine recording of the Eighth from 1970-this recording from 1958 is by no means of inferior sound quality and I think it is a better performance. The Ninth here is again from 1958 and is also very successful if not as well recorded in my opinion. The bonus tracks here, the Carnival Overture, the Bartered Bride Overture and Szell's own orchestral version of Smetana's "From My Life" Quartet are more than just fillers. They are all highly enjoyable in their own right, as I don't think I've heard Carnival and the Bartered Bride played with so much energy and life. Although Sony has done wonders for the sound, as one might expect it is not immaculate. The final few bars of the Allegro con brio from the Eighth seem to become a little distant and somewhat faint and there are some parts of the Ninth where some of the brass and timpani seem to be far away. These are small reservations in the end, although if you are looking for a modern recording in fine digital sound and solid performances I recommend the Dohnanyi with the Cleveland Orchestra on Decca. However, I will treasure these Szell recordings."

The DEFINITIVE Dvorak recordings

bruce horner | 06/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tremendous re-mastered sound, an unequalled caliber of orchestral talent and one of the greatest conductors of the century all combine to make this THE set of Dvorak 7-8-9 to have. There's none better."

Good Lord, just buy it.

Kevin Orth | 05/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not only is this the most passionately and perfectly played Dvorak and Smetana I've ever heard, it is sonically head and shoulders above the Columbia/Sony reissues we had to suffer through for so many years.

The Cleveland Orchestra is quite simply on fire here, Szell is inspired, one of the great musicians of the century, and the sound reflects the bright, spacious feeling of Severance Hall.

Let's just hope that Sony continues to clean up the scores of remaining Szell/Cleveland recordings they have in their vault for digital release. Music making of this caliber is of historical importance.

Postscript--After several more listenings I notice that in the wildly intense mono recording of Smetana's Bartered Bride overture there are moments where Szell can be heard driving the string section attack by singing the parts in a mad voice reminescent of Glenn Gould or Bernstein in their wackiest moments of musical transport. And his orchestration and performance of "From My Life".... Szell an Ice Cube? Stereotypes and reportage from third rate journalists die hard. This is music making of such barely contained passion and frenzy that even after thirty years of listening to it I still find new things to marvel at..."