Antonín Dvořák - Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9 (Václav Talich)

Information

Composer: Antonín Dvořák

• (01) Sympony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
• (05) Sympony No. 9 in E minor 'From the New World', Op. 95

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Václav Talich, conductor

Date: 1951, 1956
Label: Supraphon
https://www.supraphon.com/album/385-talich-special-edition-13-dvorak-symphonies-nos-8-9

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 6

These performances still sound as fresh and lively as any available. The first movement of the Eighth in particular has striking vitality, and Talich’s characterful treatment of the finale, which waits until the coda before really taking off, continues to serve as a model of how the music can be played most effectively. The New World Symphony has similar passion and fire, and a Largo to die for, though in this work there’s very strong competition from Ancerl on this same label, in very good stereo. Throughout both performances the playing of the Czech Philharmonic is, as expected, magnificently idiomatic, and the early 1950s mono recordings sound perfectly fine in these latest transfers, perhaps a bit brighter than in their previous incarnation. If for some reason you don’t know these performances, then by all means get this latest release, and treasure it.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
https://www.allmusic.com/album/dvor%C3%A1k-symphonies-nos-8-9-from-the-new-world-mw0001858539
https://www.amazon.com/Talich-Special-13-Dvorak-Symphonies/dp/B000NHG7NE

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Antonín Dvořák (September 8, 1841 – May 1, 1904) was a Czech composer. He was the second Czech composer to achieve worldwide recognition, after Bedřich Smetana. Following Smetana's nationalist example, many of Dvořák's works show the influence of Czech folk music, such as his  two sets of Slavonic Dances, the Symphonic Variations, and the overwhelming majority of his songs. Dvořák wrote in a variety of forms: nine symphonies, ten operas, three concertos, several symphonic poems, serenades for string orchestra and wind ensemble, more than 40 works of chamber music, and piano music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton%C3%ADn_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k

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Václav Talich (28 May 1883 – 16 March 1961) was a Czech conductor, violinist and pedagogue. He studied violin with Otakar Ševčík and conducting with Arthur Nikisch. From 1919 to 1941 Talich was the Czech Philharmonic's chief conductor, raising its prestige to world levels, touring widely with it, and recording Czech music for EMI. Particularly noted for his interpretations of Czech composers such as Dvořák, Smetana and Suk, Talich also did much to bring the operas of Janáček into the standard repertoire. Talich also taught a good deal, with Karel Ančerl and Charles Mackerras among his pupils.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A1clav_Talich

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