You will search far to find such potent, explosive recordings of the Smetana ‘Bartered Bride’ excerpts or the selection of five ‘Slavonic Dances’ here included, or as picturesquely sculpted a ‘Vltava’. Istvan Kertesz brings poetry and fire in equal measure to these works in a superbly recorded concert that is rounded off with Dvorak’s tuneful ‘Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3’ and the popular first ‘Romanian Rhapsody’ of Enescu.
BEDRICH SMETANA
Má vlast:
Vltava (Die Moldau)
The Bartered Bride:
Overture
Polka
Furiant
ANTONÍN DVORÁK
Slavonic Dances:
No. 1 in C major, Op. 46 No. 1
No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 46 No. 3
No. 8 in C minor, Op. 46 No. 8
No. 10 in E minor, Op. 72 No. 2
No. 9 in B major, Op. 72 No. 1
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
István Kertész
Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3, Op. 45 No. 3
GEORGE ENESCU
Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A major, Op. 11 No. 1
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Antal Dorati
Recording producers: John Culshaw (1-9); James Mallinson (10-11)
Recording engineers: Gordon Parry (10-11); David Frost, Colin Moorfoot, Kenneth Wilkinson (10-11)
Recording location: Hader Cinema, Tamat, Tel Aviv, Israel, March 1962 (1-9); United Artists’ Auditorium, Detroit, USA (10-11)
‘splendid performances … vigourous and hugely enjoyable’ Limelight
‘the music is fun, the program nicely planned … has all the necessary sparkle and verve’ ClassicsToday.com