Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': I. Adagio - Allegro Molto
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': II. Largo
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': III. Scherzo - Molto Vivace
Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'From The New World': IV. Allegro Con Fuoco
American Suite, Op. 98b: I. Molto Vivace
American Suite, Op. 98b: II. Allegro
American Suite, Op. 98b: III. Moderato (alla Pollacca)
American Suite, Op. 98b: IV. Andante
American Suite, Op. 98b: V. Allegro
One of the glories of the early digital era, Kirill Kondrashin's performance of the Ninth Symphony has been a prime recommendation from the day it was issued. It's still holding its own against all comers, and is even more... more » irresistible in this mid-price reissue, which couples the contemporaneous and very lovely American Suite in an equally compelling performance. There's no better Dvorák disc in the catalog. --David Hurwitz« less
One of the glories of the early digital era, Kirill Kondrashin's performance of the Ninth Symphony has been a prime recommendation from the day it was issued. It's still holding its own against all comers, and is even more irresistible in this mid-price reissue, which couples the contemporaneous and very lovely American Suite in an equally compelling performance. There's no better Dvorák disc in the catalog. --David Hurwitz
"Kondrashin's recording of Dvorak's _New World_ symphony is a standard-setter, both as a performance and as a recording. Rarely has this work been made to sound not only beautiful, but so natural and inevitable as well; there is no obvious striving after musical effect, and the symphony's parts meld into an unusually coherent whole. As for the recording, this was one of the first to be made on a digital recorder (in late 1979), yet it remains among the most natural-sounding discs yet made. I cannot recommend this disc too highly!"
Well balanced
10/18/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of the best stereo recording of Kondrashin (in terms of recording technique) and the only Kondrashin/VPO combination I know. The tempo and the "color" of the tone was precisely controlled that defines the word "balance" in orchestra music. Quite an exceptional listening experience."
Solid Choice for the New World
J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 07/17/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are searching for a Dvorak Nine, this version is worth hearing. The sound is quite good, one of the early digital recordings. The speeds are moderate, neither too fast nor too slow and there is wonderful playing, as always, from the Vienna Philharmonic. I always sense Kondrashin holding back the emotion a bit (particularly in the Largo), as if he was afraid of over-sentimentalizing the piece. Although there does seem to be a slight loss of tension due to this, overall the recording stands up very well upon repeated listenings. The American Suite is a nice bonus, very well played and recorded. I prefer this New World to the Kertesz/LSO(Decca), Kubelik/BPO (DG), and Bernstein/IPO (DG) versions. However, in my book Bernstein/NYPO (Sony), Masur/NYPO (Teldec) and Dohnanyi/Cleveland (Decca) all have this version beat by a fraction."
Excellent!
Santa Fe Listener | 11/01/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kondrashin's rendition of Dvorak's 9th is highly regarded, and sounds crisp and clear on this disc. The addition of the American suite makes this disc an excellent purchase, even if you already have a copy of Dvorak's New World symphony."
Bravo for the orchestra and the sonics, but Kondrashin is to
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/11/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I can't quite join in the fervor for this middle-of-the-road recording of the New World, a work so overly familiar that only the most outstanding performances can hope to make a difference at this point. Among the great conductors who have left memorable impressions -- Talich, Bernstein, Reiner, Szell, Kertesz, and Fricsay -- the stimable Kiril Kondrashin is good but too dutiful and moderate. We don't get any authentic Czech falvor or extra brio' the solo work doesn't glow. Even so, Decca has done a very good job with the soound (better by far thhan what they achieved for Kertesz in the Sixties), and the Vienna Phil, though not excited, plays with golden elegance.
In all, a nice recording, but David Hurwitz'a blithe assertion that it sets the standard is ridiculous -- in forty years of record collecting, I don't recall anyone recommending Kondrashin over the classic versions mentioned above."