DVORAK: Symphonies Nos. 4-6 - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (2 CDs)

The output of nine symphonies by the foremost Czech Neo-Romantic composer Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904) has ranked continuously, since its completion to this day, amongst the constituent pillars of the European symphonic repertoire as a whole. The sheer strength of Dvořák's melodic invention has never ceased to enthrall experts and the general public alike. After all, it was found breathtaking even by more than a few of the composer's prominent contemporaries (as evidenced by Brahms' statement: "Dvořák's themes for his subordinate ideas would easily supply me with enough material for principal subjects in my own work..."). Nowadays - after the demise of unsubstantiated and unjust speculations concerning Dvořák's "simple-mindedness" as regards compositional technique, theories which became fairly widespread in Bohemia at one time due to the largely ideological impact of ultra-leftist scholar (and politician) Zdeněk Nejedlý, yet which can be readily proven false when tested against any of the composer's scores - the star of Dvořák's creative genius shines with the brightest magnitude in the sky of world music. His last four symphonies in particular have become firmly embedded as staple parts of the repertoire embraced by professional symphony orchestras worldwide, widely popular with audiences everywhere for their brilliant and thoroughly gratifying instrumentation. This digital recording, made in the 1980s, relies on the century-old authentic interpretive tradition of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra whose early history saw Antonín Dvořákhimself at the conductor's post, followed by such legends of the baton as Václav Talich, Karel Ančerl, and in his own time, of course, Václav Neumann, a Dvořákian specialist and an artist of inimitable charisma.

CD 1
Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 13
1. Allegro 10:04
2. Andante e molto cantabile 11:12
3. Scherzo. Allegro feroce 07:02
4. Finale. Allegro con brio 10:29
Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76 (pův. op. 24)
5. Allegro ma non troppo 09:45
6. Andante con moto (attacca) 08:05

CD 2
Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76 (pův. op. 24)
1. Scherzo. Allegro scherzando 08:07
2. Finale. Allegro molto 12:58
Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
3. Allegro non tanto 13:43
4. Adagio 10:34
5. Scherzo (Furiant). Presto 08:25
6. Finale. Allegro con spirito 10:45