Album DescriptionAntonín Dvorák was a relatively unknown composer when Brahms recommended him to the publisher Simrock, who asked the aspiring musician to create some orchestral dances based on folk-like themes, much in the manner of Brahms?s own highly successful Hungarian Dances. The result was two books of eight pieces each, which gained Dvorák his first international success, especially in their orchestral versions (they were also written for piano four hands). The Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, which has been in existence since 1845, has recently gained an outstanding international reputation. Since the 1994 season, Adrian Leaper has been Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the orchestra. He is well known for his many successful recordings on the Naxos label.