Dvorak: Complete Symphonies & Concertos

I have been looking for a long time to get a complete cycle of the Dvorak's symphonic output in an utterly authorized interpretation and a high-quality recorded sound. Maestro Jiri Belohlavek assumed recently this task in the company of his wonderful Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the resulting CD-box is simply a precious account of this repertoire. Not only because Belohlavek knows like nobody else the moods of the Czech music and the interconnections between its specific themes, harmonies, sonorities, melodies, tempos and deep patterns, but also for he is a refined musician of Central-European formation which blends in a fascinating proportion the passionate feeling and the clean thought. The soloists invited to perform the concertante works belong to the most proficient musicians available on the international platform today. I listened a year ago to Garrick Ohlsson performing this very Concerto for piano and orchestra in Budapest (with BFO under Ivan Fischer) and a sense of his absolute identification with this kind of music stayed with me. I recognized on disc his turn of phrase, his inspired touch and his "self-effacing" vision on this quasi-symphonic score. Frank Peter Zimmermann displays a whole gamut of sensitivity to convey in musical terms a deeply felt poem on notes for violin and orchestra. The monumental Cello Concerto with its overwhelming melodic lines and magnificent orchestration seems perfectly suitable to Alisa Weilerstein her temperament and technical skills led to a perfect immersion into the musical flow.A few words about the orchestra. Indisputably, it is now one of the leading symphonic ensembles of the world. Its mellow sound with warm inflections and keen insights singles it out among the greatest contemporary orchestras. For this repertory I can hardly see another orchestra of the same calibre, of the same profound understanding and empathy with the Czech music as this wonderful ensemble of exquisite fellow musicians Jiri Belohlavek, its actual chief, former pupil of Sergiu Celibidache and a world-famous conductor in his own right is the inspirational personality who from the helm of the orchestra gives it in the most natural way its deserved glare. Five stars!

Wonderful set; both lyrical and lively. While one reviewer felt this set lacked some of the intensity of various other versions, I found it had the right balance of intensity and lyricism. Belohlavek is an accomplished master of this music, as is his orchestra, and the synergies between the two offer outstanding rewards to the listener. While I miss the more idiomatic sound the Czech Philharmonic produced in previous decades, they clearly have this music in their blood and the recorded sound is superb. While listening to the recordings, I had to check the packaging to confirm that these were not live performances, because the recordings possess the energy and spontaneity characteristic of live events. The added concerti are icing on the cake, making purchase of this set a no-brainer.

I love this set. Dvorak is one of my favorite composers and, since he was Czech, I was curious to hear the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jiri Belohlavek play his music. All the symphonies and concertos are excellent. As one expects with Dvorak, the music was sweeping. Listening to this gives me faith in the world. Before this purchase I was most familiar with Dvorak's later symphonies (excellent here too) but the earlier ones are played with such mastery I have to wonder why they're not presented in concert more often. With that much music (9 symphonies and 3 concertos on 6 CDs) it is impossible to get bored. A remarkable accomplishment from the Czech Philharmonic and Maestro Belohlavek.

This is a great set, no doubt about that. However, I found most of the performances a little to "perfect", if you understand what I mean. These didn't surpass the outstanding Neumann/Czech Phil recordings from the early 80s. Those recordings had the benefit of more distinctive playing in the sound of the old Czech Philharmonic.

Wonderful collection of the Dvorak symphonies. The 9th has a different pace and deliberate drama. The concertos gave a fringe benefit to the collection, though the Cello Concerto was a little weak.

An excellent set, as good as the long time standard Kertez/LSO. It also includes the 3 concerti and the sound is up to Decca's house standard, so rather good. You can't go wrong with any of the complete sets, but this is something special.

Wow! All of Dvorak's symphonies and his cello, violin, and piano concertos! His cello concerto possibly the best of any cello concerto I have heard. Having a Czech orchestra play this must have been a labor of love. Sad that his earlier symphonies not as famous as his 9th symphony. Price was really great, too.

Highly recommended, especially for symphonies 1-6. If the remaining three do not seriously challenge favorites they are certainly well performed and recorded. The concertos are decent enough, although the cello is far to close for comfort. The best is Ohlsson's Piano Concerto which presents a serious challenge for all others. Amazing timing, with several of the discs exceeding 83 minutes.

The player of the orchestra is, as expected, excellent. The horns sound wonderful. I particularly liked the performances of the 1st, 5th, and 7th Symphonies and the three concertos, the Cello Concerto especially. I do find some of the performances rather dull though, especially those of the 6th, 8th and 9th Symphonies, and the overall sound of the recordings is rather opaque, which was unexpected. The unedited coughing towards the end of the 8th Symphony was a surprise, but I had almost fallen asleep at that point anyway. I wish I could be more positive, because it is a great orchestra playing "their" music.

Having heard the Czech Philharmonic and Jiri Belohlavek live in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh a few times I was keen to buy this box set of all of Dvorak's Symphonies and Concertos recorded by EMI in 2012/13.Interestingly one reviewer mentioned he has the Complete Symphonies of Dvorak by Neeme Jarvi and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra recorded by Chandos in the late 1980's. He said he prefers that set to the Czech Philharmonic set but in my opinion both sets have pluses and minuses.I would say that the Jarvi/RSNO set brings Dvorak's earlier Symphonies alive, which isn't easy to do because he hadn't really developed his own Slavonic style until the 5th Symphony onwards. But it is in his later Symphonies where Belohlavek and the Czech Philharmonic really shine and their playing from the 4th to the 9th are wonderful to listen to.I would also have to say that the real strength of the Czech Orchestra apart from its glorious strings has to be its beautiful woodwind section. The flute, clarinet and oboe solos glow throughout these Symphonies and the brass is very controlled and not over blowing unlike on the Jarvi recordings.As for the Concertos it is no surprise that the Cello Concerto stands out with Alisa Weilerstein's stunning and electrifying tone a real delight to listen to. In fact her performance of it rather puts my Yo-Yo Ma/New York Philharmonic recording of 1995 in the shade.So a really rewarding Dvorak box set by Belohlavek and his Czech Philharmonic with true Slavonic playing.

Is this really my favourite orchestra - the Czech Philharmonic? I have never heard this orchestra sound so lack lustre and dull, especially in Dvorak.Bought after the BBC cd review recommended the 7th Symphony as the best available recording. Where are they finding their expert reviewers these days; never even mentioned Pierre Monteaux or Constantine Silvestri!!This set is going straight on ebay or maybe even in the bin!!

The best Dvorak-set since the Supraphon recordings of the 1960'is and 70'ies (Neumann and Ancerl). Better than Kubelik, though his No 7 still is my favoriteExciting, the right slavonic feeling and besides the symphonies generous fillings - the concertos - all in excellent interpretations. I can accept that the cello concerto No 1 is missing, as it would have demanded another CD. Let's hope that the Decca producers will issue a box with the "missing" concerto and the symphonic poems, slavonic Rhapsodies and Overtures, legends and Slavonic dances (orchestral versions) and the Romance op.11 as well?

Excellent set. Good value and well recorded. Very enjoyable.