Antonín Dvořák - Early Symphonies (Witold Rowicki)

CD1:

1. Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3 - "The Bells of Zlonice": 1. Maestoso - Allegro
2. Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3 - "The Bells of Zlonice": 2. Adagio di molto
3. Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3 - "The Bells of Zlonice": 3. Allegretto
4. Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3 - "The Bells of Zlonice": 4. Finale (Allegro animato)
5. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 4: 1. Allegro con moto

CD2:

1. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 4: 2. Poco adagio
2. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 4: 3. Scherzo (Allegro con brio)
3. Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 4: 4. Finale (Allegro con fuoco)
4. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 10: 1. Allegro moderato
5. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 10: 2. Adagio molto, tempo di marcia
6. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 10: 3. Finale (Allegro vivace)

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CD1:

1. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 13: 1. Allegro
2. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 13: 2. Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile
3. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 13: 3. Scherzo (Allegro feroce)
4. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 13: 4. Finale (Allegro con brio)
5. Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76: 1. Allegro, ma non troppo
6. Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76: 2. Andante con moto
7. Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76: 3. Andante con moto - Allegro scherzando
8. Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76: 4. Allegro molto

CD2:

1. Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60: 1. Allegro non tanto
2. Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60: 2. Adagio
3. Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60: 3. Scherzo (Furiant. Presto)
4. Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60: 4. Finale (Allegro con spirito)
5. Husitská Overture, Op. 67 (Hussite)
6. Muj Domov Overture, Op. 62 (My Country)

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Information

Composer: Antonín Dvořák

London Symphony Orchestra

Witold Rowicki, conductor

Dates: 1965 (no. 6), 1967 (no. 5), 1970 (nos. 1, 2 &4), 1971 (no. 3 & overtures)

Label: Philips

These two Philips Duo volumes here is out of print. Philips catalogue is now distributed by Decca. You can see more information in Decca website:

http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4782296

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Review

Rowicki had the misfortune, when his cycle of the Dvorãk was appearing in separate installments some years ago, as the dates indicate—to be following hard on the heels of Kertesz, recording the same works with the same orchestra. Generally at the time I found the Kertesz readings (Decca D6D7, 9/76) the more sympathetic, and on balance I would stick to that view, but sampling these alert and intelligent readings again and comparing them once more with Kertesz I have been much impressed with their freshness. I deliberately did not look back at my earlier reviews, and I found myself much more sympathetic this time with Rowicki's distinctive view of slightly understating the expressiveness of slow movements (usually at a relatively fast tempo) and often in fast movements of adding a touch of fierceness by pressing the rhythms a little more literally, allowing a degree less lilt. Both those qualities combine with recording which in this excellent transfer is very refined for its period with cleaner inner texture than the bright Decca sound provides. An aptly pastoral quality is given to the performances. The opening of No, 6 for example with the accompanying syncopations very clear in their rhythmic support is more individual and fresh than in Kertesz's reading, less than usual like a Czech version of the Brahms Second Symphony. The glorious second theme of the Third Symphony, which Kertesz treats con amore, may sound with Rowicki rather too light and cool, but in context its gently rustic tone is just as convincing as Kertesz's romantic warmth. The slow movement of No. 5, which, when the Rowicki version first appeared I found far too cool and inexpressive, now seems to me an attractive alternative, the more tender in its lyricism for being understated. Conversely Kubelik, habitually more extreme in his use of an espressivo style comes to sound a little indulgent, gilding the lily, though his set too (DO 2720 066, I0/73—nla) provided a valuable alternative with beautiful warm playing from the Berlin Philharmonic.

For Rowicki the London Symphony Orchestra plays if anything with even more crisp ensemble than for Kertesz, though that impression in part may reflect the extra refinement of texture in the recording. The violins in their upper register for example have more bloom here, and the brass is gloriously recorded, the horns in particular, clear and rich without unnatural forwardness. The sound is excellent even on the longest sides, and one of them—containing the first three movements of No. 6—lasts over 36 minutes. Rowicki's relatively fast tempi allow that division of movements, and the benefit is that though all nine symphonies are squeezed on to seven discs (as the Kertesz versions are) there is still room for a makeweight in the I-Iusitskâ Overture. As on the Kertesz set two symphonies have to be spread between individual discs. Here it is Nos. 5 and 8, where with Kertesz it was Nos. 4 and 8. The other currently available set of all nine symphonies, Neumann on Supraphon (110 1621-8, 10/75), adds to its other disappointments in the actual performances the obvious disadvantage that on eight records no fewer than four of the symphonies are spread between different records. It has taken Philips a very long time to get round to issuing Rowicki's alert and refreshing set in direct competition with the still excellent Kertesz, but with more refined sound and a makeweight it makes a very attractive alternative. The Dutch pressings are first rate.

- E.G., Gramophone, (April, 1981)

More reviews:

http://www.classical-music.com/review/dvorak-23

http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-15570/

http://www.allmusic.com/album/dvorak-the-symphonies-overtures-mw0001965629

https://www.amazon.com/Early-Symphonies-1-Antonin-Dvorak/dp/B0000041CT

https://www.amazon.com/Dvorak-Early-Symphonies-Vol-2/dp/B0000041CU

https://www.amazon.com/Dvor%C3%A1k-Symphonies-Overtures-Anton%C3%ADn-Leopold/dp/B0033KR5Z2

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Antonín Dvořák (September 8, 1841 – May 1, 1904) was a Czech composer. Following the nationalist example of Bedřich Smetana, Dvořák frequently employed aspects, specifically rhythms, of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. He wrote nine symphonies, ten operas, three concertos, several symphonic poems and more than 40 works of chamber music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton%C3%ADn_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k

***

Witold Rowicki (26 February 1914 – 1 October 1989) was a Polish conductor. He was one of the leading Polish conductors of his generation and probably best known as the founder and longtime conductor of the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra. Among his most acclaimed recordings is his Dvorák symphony cycle (recorded from the late '60s to early '70s), with the London Symphony Orchestra.

http://www.witoldrowicki.com/en/biography/

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/witold-rowicki-mn0002269408/biography

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