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Dvorák: Slavonic Dances
Antonin Dvorak, Charles Mackerras, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Dvorák: Slavonic Dances
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (16) - Disc #1


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Antonin Dvorak, Charles Mackerras, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Title: Dvorák: Slavonic Dances
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Supraphon
Original Release Date: 1/1/2005
Re-Release Date: 11/29/2005
Album Type: Import
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Classical
Style: Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 099925380823
 

CD Reviews

Stylish, balanced, warmly mellifluous performances
Pater Ecstaticus | Norway | 03/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am sorry to say I do not have any other performances of these dances on CD to compare with (yet). The only other recording/performance I have ever heard more extensively (because I own them on LP) is the exquisite, finely articulated 'classic' Cleveland Orchestra/Szell recording, whose merits I would like take for granted here. I would just like to tell what I think of this specific recording by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, which I actually bought on just an impulse.

Well, maybe not just an impulse; the fact that we here have the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra on Supraphon, a first class Czech label (of which I also own the wonderful 'Dalibor' by the Prague National Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Zdenek Kosler), conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, a conductor of (for as far as I know) high integrity and balanced style, immediately made me veer towards this modern recording of these 'classic' works, even if I had never even heard of it before, which says absolutely nothing about the quality of this recording (which is exquisite, obviously!), but of course everything about me. All of these insubstantiated associations could of course never be enough guarantee for this specific recording being as good as I expected, but my 'guts' were right in this instance and I was pleasantly surprised!

We may expect that the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra has this Bohemian music 'pur sang' flowing in its very veins, and such will be extra obvious when the right conductor comes along and coaxes them to give their very best. And I think the last is also the case here. The playing is polished and mellifluous, but clear, and with nice flowing legato. What I like very much is how Sir Charles Mackerras seems to find the ideal balance between all instrument groups, making the music sing in sweetly flowing harmony and with a sense of great clarity. But make no mistake, this is not just music making for the sake of orchestral beauty alone. There is, I think, more than enough zest and spirit to make you want to dance along as well. However abstract it may be, I would like to describe the defining characteristics of this performance as noble, harmonious, warmly mellifluous (strings especially!) and with a sense of nice, natural flow and without any real interpretative idiosyncrasies (which I mean as a compliment!; except maybe for touching upon just the right atmosphere for these dances). The acoustics of the recording venue, the Rudolfinum Studio in Prague, provides a nice amount of width and reverberation to the (beautifully natural) soundpicture. This makes this recording of these dances IMHO a very rewarding listening experience. Recommended without any reserve. But maybe I am too modest, and should I say that this is simply a great album!"
Anything by Dvorak, the king of melody,moves me!
Tineke Goldberg | Napa, California United States | 07/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a great fan of Dvorak, and I especially like his Cello Concerto. Over time I had heard many of his Slavonik Dances,but I did not own a recording myself. I just love this recording with its rich tone and rhythm, and I especially like the Slavonic Dance #8. That one is not one of the more familiar ones, but one grows into it. Each dance when listened to a few times just speaks for itself and for the great talent of Dvorak.

Tineke Goldberg, Napa, California"