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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Pierre Monteux conducts Dvorak & Elgar
Two beloved Romantic orchestral works in stellar performances, return to the catalogue in beautiful transfers. Pierre Monteux (1875-1964) often bemoaned the fact that he was associated with the French and Russian repertoires, to the exclusion of music from outside of those traditions. He could hardly help it; after all, it was Monteux who conducted the first and famously chaotic performance of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps in 1913. Nevertheless, he recorded all of Beethoven’s symphonies (some of them more than once) and all of Brahms’s, with the exception of the Fourth. He made only one recording of Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and one of the Dvořák Seventh. These came late in his career – 1958 and 1959, respectively – and were the only recordings he made of works by their respective composers. Elgar’s work frequently appeared in the conductor’s concert programs during this ‘Indian summer’. In fact, his last American concerts, in December 1963 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, featured the Enigma Variations, along with works by Vaughan Williams, Beethoven and Sibelius. In his recording of Dvořák’s Seventh, Monteux is clearly responsive to the symphony’s connections with Brahms – a composer for whom he had special affection. “great warmth of feeling … The recorded sound is still fresh and vivid … played with plenty of dash and vigour as well as considerable poetic feeling … a wonderfully sympathetic interpretation” Gramophone Magazine (Dvorak) “Monteux gives a thoroughly idiomatic and perceptive account of the Enigma Variations and the LSO play marvellously for him. They are extremely well recorded and the stereo is sonorous and detailed” Gramophone Magazine (Elgar) “highly distinctive … there is a marvelous freshness about Monteux’s approach – what a remarkably versatile musician he was – and the music is obviously deeply felt. He secures a real pianissimo at the beginning of Nimrod, the playing hardly above a whisper, yet the tension electric” Penguin Guide *** (Elgar) | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8
Norrington returns to the works of Dvořak. Both he and his SWR ensemble have ample opportunity in these works to display their unflagging virtuosity. He has previously released Dvořak’s 9th Symphony with this orchestra (HAEN93251) “It is a very remarkable performance” International Record Review “in these performances, the interpretative stakes are raised by Roger Norrington's cultivation of orchestral string playing that eschews vibrato. The radically different effect will not appeal to all. While the string sound is more focused, it is also slighter and throws more emphasis onto the wind and brass, and the players of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra step up at every stage.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2011 *** “Some expected Norrington attributes (uncluttered textures, minimal vibrato, etc) help focus the bare essentials of both masterpieces, the Seventh emerging as mellow but austere, the Eighth as a breezy 'dance symphony' in all but name...Norrington definitely stacks up, and if you accept the principles that underline his approach, I wouldn't hesitate, especially as the sound quality is extremely good.” Gramophone Magazine, November 2011 | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Dvorak - Symphony No. 7
Iván Fischer: There are many hidden treasures among Dvorák’s works and it is a particular pleasure for me to present the beautiful Suite for Orchestra in A major on this disc. I think it should be performed more often in concerts, and I sincerely hope that this recording will inspire orchestras to extend their Dvorák repertoire with this composition of enchanting beauty, lyricism and freshness. The 7th Symphony is among the greatest masterpieces. Symphonies, which start in a minor and end in a major key, like Beethoven’s fifth, Mahler’s first and many others take us from sadness to happiness, from tragedy to jubilation. But here Dvorák sustains the D minor to the very end: he turns to D major only in the final six bars! It is an extraordinary structure, an incredible development creating irresistible excitement. Iván Fischer is founder and Music Director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington D.C. The partnership between Iván Fischer and his Budapest Festival Orchestra has proved to be one of the greatest success stories in the past 25 years of classical music. Fischer introduced several reforms, developed intense rehearsal methods for the musicians, emphasizing chamber music and creative work for each orchestra member. Intense international touring and a series of acclaimed recordings for Philips Classics, later for Channel Classics have contributed to Iván Fischer's reputation as one of the world's most visionary and successful orchestra leaders. “This remains a youthful orchestra, and each of its tours and recordings has the atmosphere of a festival...Fischer maintains the momentum throughout [the Seventh], giving his woodwind soloists plenty of time to luxuriate in Dvorak’s inexhaustible stream of melodic ideas, yet never driving the music.” Sunday Times, 23rd May 2010 **** “The turmoil of the opening movement of Dvorak's Seventh Symphony has rarely sounded so thrilling. The Budapest Festival Orchestra's cellos and double basses bite into this work with panther-like agility...Ivan Fischer balances vigour with softness” The Independent on Sunday, 30th May 2010 “Fischer's approach is certainly involved with the work's expressive character, but also with Dvorak's strong symphonic control. The musical argument in the first movement is powerful...Fischer and the orchestra are at their best in the finale with puropseful development and a spine-tingling close - often the point at which some of the finest interpretations fall down.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2010 *** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Dvorák - Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8
In these live recordings from Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, Dvorák’s most darkly dramatic and passionate symphony, the Seventh, is coupled with his Eighth, notable for its dramatic contrasts, Bohemian lyricism, and a seemingly spontaneous flow of thematic ideas. “Care for detail is apparent...[Alsop's] sense of line is at its most impressive in the way in which the slow movement is sustained and the unfolding of the joyous second theme in the finale...as a whole this splendidly recorded performance stands very high among available readings.” BBC Music Magazine, June 2010 ***** “Alsop's account of the extrovert Eighth...shows off the virtues of the Baltimore orchestra well” The Guardian, 20th May 2010 *** “Marin Alsop brings to this disc of two of Dvorák’s finest symphonies her customary taste and judgment. The noble opening of No 8 has just the right degree of spaciousness, the folk themes are suitably jaunty, the textures are admirably clear and her orchestra meticulously prepared.” The Telegraph, 13th June 2010 *** “The amount of felicitous detail here is more than enough to justify purchase, even if you already own one or more versions of either work...Alsop should please both the eager newcomer on the lookout for a recommendation and the seasoned collector who knows and loves the music but fancies listening between the staves.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2010 “The bewitching scherzo of the seventh and the lyrical adagio and allegretto grazioso of the eighth stand out in these meticulous live recordings, Alsop drawing some wonderfully sensitive, silky playing from her Baltimore players.” The Observer, 18th July 2010 “This is immensely refreshing, unforced and engagingly natural Dvorak playing. The slow movement is very well characterized and there's a sure sense of architecture as well as some rapturous playing...It's hard to imagine anyone being disappointed with such fresh and natural music-making.” International Record Review, October 2010 | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Dvorak - Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8
Signum's highly successful series of releases with The Philharmonia Orchestra continues with these live performances of Dvorak's symphonies Nos. 7 and 8, led by Sir Charles Mackerras. This is the second disc to feature Sir Charles, following on from last year's widely praised live recording of Schubert's Symphony No. 9. “His approach in the Seventh might almost be described as operatic, with a clear focus on dramatic detail. There…the Eighth Symphony fares even better, with an infectious reading of the first movement and depth in the Adagio; very well recorded.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2010 ***** “[No. 8] carries all before it in a good performance, which it gets here from that master of Czech music, Charles Mackerras — 82 when these live recordings were made, and in spanking form. The woodwinds’ birdsong in No 8 is a special pleasure.” Sunday Times, 31st January 2010 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Dvorak - Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 & 9
“among the most refreshing of [Pesek's] recordings, persuasive in a light relaxed way, slow movements warm with the folk element brought out...The sound is full and clear.” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70
“a powerful reading, a shade freer and more warmly expressive than his earlier (1975) version for Philips” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition *** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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“outstanding playing from the Israel Philharmonic... recorded with remarkable richness and depth” Classics Today | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Dvořák: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 7
Staatsphilharmonie Nurnberg, Marcus Bosch | 
| | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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Gramophone Magazine