Antonín Dvořák - Symphonies & Overtures (Witold Rowicki)

Information

Composer: Antonín Dvořák

• Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3 'The Bells of Zlonice'
• Carnival Overture, Op. 92
• My Country Overture, Op. 62
• Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
• Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 4
• Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 13
• Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 10
• Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76
• Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70
• Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
• Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World'
• Othello Overture, Op. 93
• Hussite Overture, Op. 67

London Symphony Orchestra

Witold Rowicki, conductor

Date: 1965–1971

Label: Decca

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Review

Dvořák's nine symphonies have received considerable attention of late so it's good to revive memories of the times when these works (apart from the final three) were all but unknown. Decca led the way with their trailblazing complete cycle recorded 1965-71 under István Kertész followed by Kubelík on DG and Rowicki on Philips, the set that has been re-released here in a Decca guise.

It is interesting to compare these contemporaneous accounts with Kertesz's recordings and more often than not, the speeds Rowicki employs are almost identical although I still have to yield to Kenneth Wilkinson's magnificent recordings in the old Decca set. The first two symphonies are commendable here with Rowicki finding much magic and mystery in the expansive second movements of each work. In the Third, momentum is the keyword with the gorgeous slow movement expanding to almost epic proportions.

The Fourth is almost like a Cinderella but its Scherzo is one of my perennial favourites with the tangible sounds of the triangle coming through quite magically here. Rowicki's Fifth is full of great beauty and emotion especially in the Finale – one of the finest movements Dvořák ever wrote. The Sixth is similarly ebullient with its lovely slow movement extremely expressive and the Finale sure and assured.

The Seventh Symphony is perhaps slightly low key while the Eighth could do with a bit more power – something which George Szell understood very well in his classic Decca recording of the work. Rowicki's New World is slightly underwhelming but nevertheless it's a fine conclusion to a seminal set. The accompanying overtures are also given full blooded treatment and are comparable to Kertész's rambunctious accounts. This is all in all a fine set and is recommended for those wishing to discover Dvořák again.

— Gerald Fenech

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Antonín Dvořák (September 8, 1841 – May 1, 1904) was a Czech composer. He was the second Czech composer to achieve worldwide recognition, after Bedřich Smetana. Following Smetana's nationalist example, many of Dvořák's works show the influence of Czech folk music, such as his  two sets of Slavonic Dances, the Symphonic Variations, and the overwhelming majority of his songs. Dvořák wrote in a variety of forms: nine symphonies, ten operas, three concertos, several symphonic poems, serenades for string orchestra and wind ensemble, more than 40 works of chamber music, and piano music.

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Witold Rowicki (26 February 1914 – 1 October 1989) was a Polish conductor. He studied at the Kraków Conservatory and made his conducting debut in 1933. After World War II, he helped re-establish the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra and later led the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, significantly enhancing its reputation. He also held key posts with the Kraków Philharmonic and Bamberg Symphony. Known for his disciplined and dynamic interpretations, Rowicki was particularly acclaimed for his recordings of Brahms and Dvořák. He also championed modern Polish music, premiering works by Lutosławski and recording many others.

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