Search - Stephen Gunzenhauser, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra :: Dvorak: The Complete Symphonies

Don't Be Put Off By the Low Price

04/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a first-rate set of the Dvorak symphonies, plus the Op. 59 Legends and the Op. 78 Symphonic Variations. These recordings all got very favorable reviews in the Penguin Guide--"recommendable even without the price advantage" is a typical quote.If you love Dvorak's New World Symphony, but are less than familiar with his other symphonies, this is a low-cost way to get it all. Consider also the set conducted by Istvan Kertesz, which is very fine, too. This is great and accessible music; you won't be disappointed either way."

Very mixed bag

charles morgan, music fanatic | 02/17/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This set has its highs and lows for sure...which is unfortunate given its promise.



Particularly good are the Fifth and Ninth symphonies, the Fifth being a very pleasant, delightful performance suitable to the work and with strong woodwind playing...the Ninth is quite exciting ("vibrant" says Gramophone) and all-around strong. Honorable mentions to some of the Early symphonies (#3 especially) and the above-average Seventh, which is also quite exciting, although not on the Leonard Bernstein level (Bernstein's 7th plus the Moldau is one helluva disc!).



However, the set hurts from a poor Eighth Symphony. The Eighth arguably is Dvorak's best and most interesting, but Gunzenhauser and his orchestra really drop the ball. The trumpets let a couple bad notes fall unpleasantly (in the first movement), and the timpani player is strangely either right in front overpowering the orchestra or buried in the texture and unhearable. The first movement is taken at a slow tempo, and the others are just acceptable. I wish the coda of the finale was played faster and with more pep. The Sixth Symphony is also lackluster; although the slow movement is pretty, the others are merely okay, and the scherzo is a bit on the slow side.



But the biggest complaint is the sound; most of the discs (most prominently Symphonies 4 and 8) sound dull and washed-out, as if the microphones are placed in the lobby and the staircase leading up to the balcony (this feeling was confirmed when I showed up late for a concert a few nights ago and the sound inside the stairwell was very similar to that of this set!). The orchestra just sounds dreary. (Actually, the woodwinds sound very good, but the violins sound washed-out and the brass is watery.) This is almost certainly the fault of both engineer (who goes uncredited on the case) and venue (for I have heard other recordings of the orchestra in other venues which sound fabulous). On the other hand, the Ninth is made fabulous by a sharp, clear, immediate sound unlike the rest of the set.



The whole sound problem, though, can be solved by turning the volume up a lot higher than you'd usually set it. I usually keep volume on 2 on my headphones - but move it up to 3.5 here, and then blow my eardrums out when I turn on the radio afterwards. But unless you're a real cheapskate, I'd recommend a better set from Kubelik or Kertesz etc. If you ARE a real cheapskate, you'll find that there is quite a bit to like in this set of symphonies - but some to avoid."

A good low price collection

Wei Hsien Li | United States | 12/10/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This set of Dvorak is my first set of someone's complete symphonies. Stephen Gunzenhauser and Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra has a warm and pleasant sound, but sometimes they are not powerful as other famous orchestras. That makes their No.9 just a OK choice(but their Symphonic Variation is good). Their No.1, No.2, and No.5 are very persuasive, combine high standard performance and recording. Stephen Gunzenhauser did a amazing job in No.7, he choice the speed carefully and make the music very tense even the orchestra is not a warhorse. If somebody can conduct No.7 with Berlin Philharmonic like this, it will be my first choice for No.7. No.8 is a disappointment, the orchestra just don't show their best. After all, I think this set is still a very good choice in Dvorak's complete symphonies, it has a above average music performance, warm sound and recording, and a good production(unlike some early Naxos orchestral recording sounds warm but lack detail, this one 's sound is warm, but in nice quality.)"