GOING HOME SLOW
Duane E. Crawford | Rolette, ND USA | 08/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dvorak's New World Symphony is my all time favorite symphony. Ashkenazy gets it right by playing Going Home soft and gentle though he picks up in the Scherzo with Molto vivace. In Nature's Realm has the Czech's natural flair for the dramatic. Carnival is a joy. The CD coupling had only one left from Amazon, so get it while you can. Dvorak can be tragic dramatic as in Othello. I'd like to go beyond his wonderful symphonies such as seven and eight into his serenades and trios."
Splendid Dvorak 9th Symphony From Ashkenazy, CPO
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 07/31/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's been a few great recordings issued of Dvorak's 9th Symphony in recent years, with highest honors going to those with Abbado and Harnoncourt conducting the Berlin Philharmonic and Royal Concertgebouw orchestras. Although this one pales in sound quality with these, it should be regarded as a first rate version due to the excellent collaboration between Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra still retains much of the rich, warm tone prevalent in such Eastern European orchestras as the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Berlin Staatskapelle, and especially, Dresden Staatskapelle. And true to the spirit of their illustrious Czech musical forebear, the orchestra plays its hearts on its sleeve, creating one of the most haunting versions of the Largo I have yet heard. Ashkenazy does a splendid job leading the orchestra, though some, such as this reviewer, would have enjoyed a more spirited, innovative interpretation such as Harnoncourt's. The second CD contains three of Dvorak's tone poems and overtures; these are also well played by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Anyone in search of a fine recent recording of the Dvorak 9th Symphony won't be disappointed with this 2 CD set."