István Kertész made one of the first stereo cycles of Dvorák’s symphonies on Decca with the London Symphony Orchestra. Earlier still, in 1961, he recorded just the Ninth (‘From the New World’), with the Vienna Philharmonic – one of the tautest, most thrilling performances ever committed to disc. It is coupled here with a recording made seven years later with the LSO, and long out of the catalogue, that of the Wind Serenade. This release forms part of a survey, on Eloquence, of Kertész’s treasured Decca discography.
ANTONIN DVOŘÁK
Serenade for Winds in D minor, Op. 44
London Symphony Orchestra
István Kertész
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 ‘From the New World’
Wiener Philharmoniker
István Kertész
Recording Producers: Ray Minshull, (Symphony); Erik Smith (Serenade)
Balance Engineers: James Brown (Symphony); Kenneth Wilkinson (Serenade)
Recording Locations: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, March 1961 (Symphony); Kingsway Hall, London, UK, May 1968 (Serenade)
‘This is in any event exciting and convincing in nearly every detail; the slow movement has poetry and […] the scherzo has great vitality and bite. The Decca recording is very vivid and has wide dynamic range and excellent tone; the timpani are quite spectacular’ (Symphony No. 9) Gramophone
‘The Wind Serenade of Dvorák is especially delectable. What an utter charmer the Trio of the Minuet, in particular, is in this engaging performance and how invigorating the zest and point with which the finale is played.’ Gramophone