Search - Antonin Dvorak, Bedrich Smetana, Jaromir Weinberger :: Dvorák: New World Symphony/Smetana: Bartered Bride/Weinberger: Polka & Fugue

WOW!

04/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Dvorák "New World" Symphony as recorded by Reiner and Chicago in 1958 is a great recorded performance, although the sound is not as good as has been given Reiner on other occasions. But the show stoppers on this CD are the recordings of Dvorák's "Carnival" Overture and Weinberger's Polka and Fugue from "Schwanda the Bagpiper." Both of these shorter works date from the period (1956) where in my opinion, Reiner and Chicago were given the best overall sound they ever got from Richard Mohr and Lewis Layton, the RCA classical producer and engineer. You will literally jump out of your chair from the fortissimo cymbal crash that opens the "Carnival" Overture. When you sit back down from the shock, be in for a treat to hear some virtuoso orchestral playing, plus the most tenderly-rendered love section I've ever heard anywhere of this piece. The Polka and Fugue from "Schwanda" is the best encore-type work recorded by Reiner and his band, and the Chicago brass are in their heyday in this piece. You will almost experience the same red-faced sweat along with Chicago 1st trumpet Adolph ("Bud") Herseth as he fights to sustain the long fortissimo phrase leading into the coda of the piece! The closing brass notes of the piece had to have been difficult to get onto the master tape without overloading - you can just imagine how this must have sounded live despite the limitations of the analog tape formulation technology at this early date in stereo.All I can say, is WOW!"

Reiner Chicago Symphony Brass Tutorial and then some

Instrumentalist | Michigan United States | 11/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The other reviews are very accurate, the pieces that go with the showcase New World 9th are also very good, BUT GET THIS FOR THE NEW WORLD 9th, the rest is frosting. None of the other recordings of the 9th I have compare. Fritz Reiner indeed had brought the orchestra from ho-hum to one of the world's finest if not the best (on Boston's back)just at this time and the brass section is filled with "principal" quality players in every chair. But it just not the brass here (although I think that a teacher could use this CD as a start & stop tutorial on how brass should sound in playing powerfully yet still blending and in and complimenting the strings & woodwinds)..the woodwinds (e.g. Ray Still on Oboe) and strings (Frank Miller on cello) are fabulous. For non classical fans who still are looking for a few classical pieces that really can stir you (played by a true world class group in it's prime)this should be one of your selections."

One of the Great Recordings of this All Time Classic

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 01/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"RCA has a vast and incredible library of classical music recordings, particularly in its LIVING STEREO series, and over the years has re-released some of its great titles. One of the more popular and enduring recordings in this series is Fritz Reiner's recording of Dvorak's Ninth Symphony with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. People familiar with the LP version will instantly recognize it distinctive cover with a photograph of the Statue of Liberty, the same monument which would have greeted Dvorak when he first visited the United States and where he was inspired to write this great work.



The showpiece of the recording is Dvorak's 9th. Recorded in 1957, the orchestra has a hearty sound. Both Reiner and the orchestra seem familiar with the work. Reiner moves the work along, and is particularly vigorous in his conducting of the fourth movement, which may not be to everyone's liking, but works well with this recording. The CD also contains three other works that are in keeping with Dvorak's 9th. Two are overtures: a robust version of Dvorak's "Carnival Overture," and a lively recording of Smetena's overture to "The Bartered Bride." The third piece is Weinberger's Polka and Fugue from "Schwanda the Bagpiper." Interestingly, while he conducts the Dvorak's pieces with energy, the Weinberger piece, while conducted and performed beautifully, is a bit slower paced than other recordings of the work.



One bonus of the re-release of the "Living Stereo" recordings is that they contain the original liner notes from the LP. Since this CD is a compilation from two different LP's, the liner notes from both are included in this set. RCA has not re-released as many of the titles as they promised ten years ago when they first opened the vaults. Let's hope some of the other great titles will be released in the near future.

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