| biography |
| Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904) was a Czechoslovakian composer of classical music. He spent most of his life in his home city of Prague, but it was during his visit to the United States that he wrote his most popular work, his ninth symphony From the New World. In this work he described landscapes that he had seen while visiting the USA.
It is a common legend that Dvorak used elements from American music like Spirituals and Native American music in that symphony. However, this is not the case, as Dvorak never claimed to have done so, and there is no similarity between the symphony and such elements.
Also while in the USA he heard a performance of a cello concerto by the composer Victor Herbert. He was so excited by the possibilities of the cello and orchestra combination displayed in this concerto that he wrote a cello concerto of his own, the Cello Concerto in B minor (1895). Since then the concerto he wrote has grown in popularity and today it is frequently performed. He also left an unfinished work, the Cello Concerto in A major (1865), which was completed and orchestrated by the German composer Günter Raphael between 1925 and 1929.
Dvorak's works were catalogued by Jamil Burghauser in Antonin Dvorák. Thematic Catalogue. Bibliography. Survey of Life and Work (Export Artia Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1960). In this catalogue, for example, the New World Symphony (Opus 95) is B178.
Czech
composer Dvorák (1841-1904) has attained well-deserved popularity
for the wealth of spontaneous lyricism and vigorous, folk-inspired
rhythms that enliven his music. Dvorák's sensitivity to both
Bohemian and American folk sources is evident in his most beloved
chamber and symphonic compositions.
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| recommended
recordings |
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Dvorak:
Symphony no 9 / Kertsz, London Symphony Orchestra (Penguin
Music Classics Series) |
Composer:
Antonín
Dvorák
Conductor: István
Kertész
Ensemble: London
Symphony Orchestra
Uni/Penguin Classics - #460604 / September 29, 1998
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here for more information |
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This entry in the new Penguin Music Classics collection presents
one of the best readings of Dvorák's Ninth, From
the New World. In her liner essay, playwright Wendy Wasserstein--author
of the acclaimed Heidi
Chronicles--describes playing the Ninth at blaring
volumes on her discman as she traversed downtown Prague. And
this is exactly how the music should be heard: loud. Dvorák's
Ninth is, of course, so frequently played that it can become
cumbersome, but Istvan Kertész and...Read
more
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Dvorák:
Symphonies nos 8 & 9 / Kubelik, Berlin PO
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Composer:
Antonín
Dvorák
Conductor: Rafael
Kubelik
Ensemble: Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #47412 / February 13, 1996
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here for more information |
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| Rafael Kubelik recorded Dvorak's Ninth Symphony
something like four times, but it's never sounded better than
it does here. In fact, when these performances were first
released, they set new standards in symphonic cogency and
beauty of orchestral execution. On this disc they have been
carefully remastered and paired on a single midpriced CD.
What a deal! One of the biggest problems in collecting classical
music is that you're often faced with an embarrassment of
riches--so many really fine performances of the great works.
Some of these, however, stand out as classic recordings of
classical music, and Kubelik's Dvorak recordings clearly belong
in this elite category. --David Hurwitz |
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Dvorák:
Cello Concerto; Tchaikowsky / Rostropovich, Karajan
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Composer:
Antonín
Dvorák, Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Herbert
von Karajan
Performer: Mstislav
Rostropovich
Ensemble: Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #47413 / January 23, 1996
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here for more information |
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Mstislav Rostropovich is the world's greatest cellist, and
he has actually made at least five recordings of this greatest
of all cello concertos. I have a certain preference for his
later version, with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
on Erato. This version has long been a prime recommendation,
and in this new remastering at mid-price, it's an even better
deal now. Herbert von Karajan accompanies with his usual expertise,
and the Tchaikovsky performance is quite simply the finest...Read
more
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Dvorak:
Stabat Mater |
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Composer:
Antonín
Dvorák
Conductor: Helmuth
Rilling
Performer: Ingeborg
Danz, Thomas
Quasthoff, et al.
Ensemble: Oregon
Bach Festival Chorus, Oregon
Bach Festival Orchestra
Hanssler - #98935 / September 3, 1996
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here for more information
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Since the Middle Ages, this text has inspired composers in
two fundamental ways: they have set it to music in fulfillment
of a vow to the Virgin Mary, whom they believe has answered
some prayer or petition; or they have purged themselves of
some personal sense of grief in setting this moving text,
which describes her sorrow as she weeps at the foot of the
cross. Between 1875 and 1876, Dvorák lost three of
his children to illness or accident, and it's no wonder that
he chose to express his sorrow...Read
more
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Dvorák:
Slavonic Dances Opp 46 & 72 / Szell, Cleveland Orch
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Composer:
Antonín
Dvorák
Conductor: George
Szell
Ensemble: Cleveland
Orchestra
Sony Classics - #48161 / June 2, 1992
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here for more information
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George Szell's dedication to Dvorák is well-documented
on CD, most recently with the reissue of his outstanding recordings
of Symphonies 7 through 9. But for many Dvorák lovers,
his name will be forever associated with this sparkling set
of Slavonic Dances, one of the outstanding recordings
of the LP era. Along with Kubelik's DG recording, this is
the only complete set of Dvorák's miniature masterpieces
that deserves to be set alongside classic Czech versions by
conductors...Read
more
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Dvorák:
Piano Quintet, Piano Quartet / Pressler, Emerson Qt
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Composer:
Antonín
Dvorák
Performer: Eugene
Drucker, Lawrence
Dutton, et al.
Ensemble: Emerson
String Quartet
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #39868 / May 10, 1994
Click
here for more information |
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The venerable pianist of the Beaux Arts Trio joins the Emerson
Quartet for two memorable performances. To the uncommon clarity
and rhythmic drive of the string players, Menahem Pressler
adds some of his own expansive personality. The mix works
beautifully. You can hear every note in the scores, and everything
is played with great expression and enough rhythmic tension
to keep the music flowing. If you don't know these gorgeous
works, this is a great way to make their introduction; if
you do know...Read
more
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| works
& recordings |
|
- Chamber
Music
Trios, Quartets, Quintets
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Secular and sacred choral music. Oratorios, Masses, Partsongs,
Hymns, Carols
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Sonatas, Suites, Overtures, Minuets, Variations, Transcriptions,
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- Orchestra
Concertos, Symphonies
- Theatrical
Works
Ballet, Stage, Incidental Music, Film Scores
- Vocal
and Opera
Opera, Operetta, Song, Lieder, Musical Theater
Complete
List of Works and Recordings
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