Search - Antonin Dvorak, Bedrich Smetana, Jaromir Weinberger :: Dvorák's New World Symphony and Other Orchestral Masterworks [Hybrid SACD]

A truly wonderful experience

A photographer | Planet Earth | 01/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have several CD's of Dvorak's 9th Symphony but it's unlikely I will play them again. The performance is the best I've heard and the recording is outstanding. My wife, who doesn't even particularly like classical music, came into the room when I played this recording the first time and actually sat down and listened to the whole CD. That might be a first for her and the fact that she was impressed, impresses me.



I've been buying a number of the RCA Living Stereo SACD's recently and I'm more impressed every time I listen to them. I also have a few of the Mercury Living Presence CD's and SACD's which are also outstanding (although the Living Presence SACD's are premium priced). Considering more recent recordings of the same works, the performances and the sound are both better on the 45-50 year old recordings than on the current DDD's.



To those who want to buy recordings of the most popular classical works, I would highly recommend Living Stereo and Living Presence CD's and SACD's. Of the Dvorak's "From The New World" Symphony recordings available, I consider this a first choice."

Stunning clarity for classic performance

Giacomo C. | 03/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A well thought out and impassioned classic performance of Dvorak's 9th from Reiner and the CSO, who are both in excellent form here.

The SACD transfer allows you to really hear all of the little details in the score/recording with stunning clarity. Woodwind and horn solos come out firmly placed and well defined rather than lost in the mix. The rich sound produced by these musicians is well served, faithfully reproduced.

The Bartered Bride Overture is given a lively and striking performance, string sections digging in ferociously, and it is nice to have the Weinberger piece, more of a rarity, given such high quality treatment.



I got the impression that these particular recordings are showing their age a bit more than some of the other Living Stereo master tapes, but the sound is still incredible all things considered. The symphony is presented in its original three-track multichannel, and it is well worth hearing it in that format.

All in all, another fine addition to this series of remasterings."

One of the Great Recordings of this All Time Classic

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 12/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"


RCA has a vast and incredible library of classical music recordings, particularly in its LIVING STEREO series, and over the years has re-released some of its great titles. One of the more popular and enduring recordings in this series is Fritz Reiner's recording of Dvorak's Ninth Symphony with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. People familiar with the LP version will instantly recognize it distinctive cover with a photograph of the Statue of Liberty, the same monument which would have greeted Dvorak when he first visited the United States and where he was inspired to write this great work.



The showpiece of the recording is Dvorak's 9th. Recorded in 1957, the orchestra has a hearty sound. Both Reiner and the orchestra seem familiar with the work. Reiner moves the work along, and is particularly vigorous in his conducting of the fourth movement, which may not be to everyone's liking, but works well with this recording. The CD also contains three other works that are in keeping with Dvorak's 9th. Two are overtures: a robust version of Dvorak's "Carnival Overture," and a lively recording of Smetena's overture to "The Bartered Bride." The third piece is Weinberger's Polka and Fugue from "Schwanda the Bagpiper." Interestingly, while he conducts the Dvorak's pieces with energy, the Weinberger piece is conducted a bit slower than other recordings of the work.



One bonus of the re-release of the "Living Stereo" recordings is that they contain the original liner notes from the LP. Since this CD is a compilation from two different LP's, the liner notes from both are included in this set. RCA has not re-released as many of the titles as they promised ten years ago when they first opened the vaults. Let's hope some of the other great titles will be released in the near future.







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