Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"; Carnival Overture; Slavonic Dances Nos. 1 & 3

Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic

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Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"; Carnival Overture; Slavonic Dances Nos. 1 & 3 Review

by Blair Sanderson

Previously available as part of the "Bernstein Century" series but reissued in 2004 in the Masterworks Expanded Edition, this album of Dvorák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World," Carnival Overture, and the Slavonic Dances Nos. 1 and 3 is enriched with bonus tracks of Smetana's Overture and Dances (3) from The Bartered Bride. Despite Bernstein's hyperactive conducting and some scrappy playing in places from the New York Philharmonic, these are examples of the most lively music they produced together in the early '60s. The symphony is truly exciting and almost overwhelming in this vigorous interpretation, and the orchestra pours out all its energy where it counts. Bernstein may be criticized for excessive speed, but his drive keeps the musicians attentive and, for the most part, accurate. Things are less tidy in the rushed Carnival Overture and the scurrying Overture to The Bartered Bride, but the NYP is full of vitality and brings off these pieces with great panache. Smetana's Polka, Furiant, and the "Dance of the Comedians" are the most charming tracks, and good choices as filler. Remastered with Direct Stream Digital and SBM Direct, the analog recordings sound better than ever, with a much fuller bass than the original LPs provided.

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
Symphony No. 9 in E minor ("From the New World"), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5)
1
1. Adagio - Allegro molto
Antonin Dvorák
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 11:07 SpotifyAmazon
2
2. Largo
Antonin Dvorák
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 14:44 SpotifyAmazon
3
3. Scherzo. Molto vivace
Antonin Dvorák
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 06:35 SpotifyAmazon
4
4. Allegro con fuoco
Antonin Dvorák
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 11:08 SpotifyAmazon
5
Carnival (Karneval), concert overture, B. 169 (Op. 92)
Antonin Dvorák
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 08:59 SpotifyAmazon
6
Slavonic Dance No. 1 for orchestra in C major, B. 83/1 (Op. 46/1)
Antonin Dvorák
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 04:13 SpotifyAmazon
7
Slavonic Dance No. 3 for orchestra in A flat major, B. 83/3 (Op. 46/3)
Antonin Dvorák
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 05:38 SpotifyAmazon
8
Prodaná nevesta (The Bartered Bride), overture to the opera
Bedřich Smetana
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 06:29 SpotifyAmazon
Prodaná nevesta (The Bartered Bride), opera, JB 1:100
9
Polka
Bedřich Smetana
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 04:56 SpotifyAmazon
10
Furiant
Bedřich Smetana
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 02:11 SpotifyAmazon
11
Dance of the Comedians
Bedřich Smetana
Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 03:38 SpotifyAmazon
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Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"; Carnival Overture; Slavonic Dances Nos. 1 & 3

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