most popular one, but also four relatively balances throughout the irresistible scherzo unfamiliar overtures-, The Huss- movement. The recorded sound is warmer nes, In Nature's Realm, and . and less troubled by excessive room reverber- The five early Dvoiak symphonies have all ation than has been the case with most or- been available on the Artia label in wholly chestral performances taped in Prague. At gleSeason idiomatic Czech performances (only Nos. 3 $2.49, this record is a good buy,butfor the and 4 in stereo), as have the Hussite and best available disc version, I. think itisa Othello overtures. However, London's stereo toss-up between Szell and Kertesz. inthe recording is vastly superior, and in most re- Summing up the Dvoiak symphonic scene spects the London Symphony outstrips in on discs as it now appears, I would say that refinementandvirtuosityanythingthat the first five symphonies are for Dvoiak buffs cSun with Prague has to offer. Furthermore, Kertesz only, and that they are exceedingly well has proved with his recordings of the Sixth represented in the Kertesz-London discs.I and Eighth symphonies that he knows his would likewise give Mr. Kertesz the palm way with Czech style, too. for all the later symphonies except the "New "Deuische Musically, the first four Dvoiik sympho- World," but I must boint out that the Epic G itarninvpluil nies are of interestin demonstrating (a) album with George Szell and the Cleveland that the composer was a born melodist, and Orchestra presents a wholly satisfactory al- gescuschaft (b) that his craft had not yet reached full ternate for Dvoiak's "big three," including If you can't make it to Europe for the flower. There are lovely moments inthe a really fine "New World." D. H. early symphonies: the "New Worldish" festivals this season, DGG brings you solo in the slow movement of No. 1, the its own summer festival beginning with unusual scherzo of No. 2, the fiercely mili- the history -making recording of Tristan tant scherzo and finale of No. 4, and the and Isolde recorded live at Bayreuth. lovely slow -movement cello melody and flaw- less dance -scherzo of No. 5. But there are also tiresome redundancies of figuration and rhythm, clumsy transitions, and derivative WAGNER elements-especially of the Wagner Tann- hauser-Venusberg variety-that make one understand why the composer kept the first WOLFGANG WINDGASSEN four out of the canon of his published work CHRISTA LUDWIG during his lifetime. (Indeed, the manuscript MARTTI TALVELA of No. 1 was not even discovered until EBERHARD WAECHTER 1923.) Be that as it may, Kertesz gives a KARL BOEHM rousing and affectionate account of all five of BAYREUTHER the early symphonies, doing especially well FESTSPIELE with the scherzo of No. 5. 1966 Among the overture performances, the fas- cinating and dramatic 39 221-5; Stereo 139 221-5 (5 records) This is the last of the three concert over- tures (In Nature's Realm and Carnival are Die Walkuere- the other two) all built around the same Nagiler: motto theme, yet developing from it music Regine Crespin, Gundula Janowitz, Jon of widely disparate expressive content. For Vickers, Thomas Stewart; Berlin Phil- my taste, Kertesz is a trifle heavy-handed harmonic,Karajan,cond. 5records. with rhythmic accent in the militant Hussite 1ST\ AN KERTI.,/. 39 299-233; Stereo 139 229-233 Overture, as well as in the swingingly bu- Early DvoFdk symphonies in rousing style colic In Nature's Realm. My Home isof some interest becauseituses the melody RECORDINGS OF SPECIAL MERIT Schubert:Die Schoene Muel- (Where is my Home?) that eventually be- lerin/ Seven Songs-Fritz Wunderlich, came the Czechoslovaknationalanthem, (s)(t_ti) HAYDN: Mass No. 7, Missa in ; Hubert Giessen, piano. 2 records. but as a whole it is not up to Dvoiak's best. tempore belli ("Paukenmesse"), Motet- 39 219-20; Stereo 139 219-20 Perhaps not so surprisingly,itis in the Insanae et vane curae. Heather Harper (so- most popular of the Dvoiak symphonies- prano) , Pamela Bowden ( contralto ), Alex- "From the New World"-that Kertesz fails ander Young (tenor), John Shirley -Quirk NOiart:The Magic Flute- to score a resounding success. He takes a very (bass). Choir of King's College, Cambridge; Roberta Peters, Evelyn Lear, Dietrich studied and deliberate view of the first move- English Chamber Orchestra, David Willcocks Fischer-Dieskau, Fritz Wunderlich in "a ment (complete with expositoryrepeat), cond. ANGEL S 36417 $5.79, 36417$4.79. splendid production" (HighFidelity). and though his pacing of the other three C) HAYDN:Mass No. 9, in D Minor Berlin Philharmonic, Karl Boehm, cond. movements is wholly just, the performance ("Nelson" Mass). Sylvia Stahlman (sopra- 3 records. 18 981-3; Stereo 138 981-3 never takes wing as do those of Toscanini, Szell, and Walter. The orchestral playing no),HelenWatts(contralto),Wilfrid and recording are the last word in precision Brown (tenor), Tom Krause (baritone). _ Songs-Dietrich and elegance, but the whole fails to enthrall. Choir of King's College, Cambridge; London Symphony Orchestra, David Willcocks cond. Fischer-Dieskau, "the foremost Lieder Dvoiak's first great mature symphony, and singer of the day,"; Joerg Demus, piano. the least nationalistic-No. 7 in D Minor- ARGO ZRG 5325 $5.79, RG 325* $5.79. 39 197; Stereo 139 197 has had some distinguished recorded per- () C) HAYDN: Mass No. 12, in B -flat formances in the past-by Kubelik, Szell, ("Harmoniemesse"). ErnaSpoorenberg Zuurah: Symphony No. 8- and Monteux. Zdenek Koiler and the Czech (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Alex- (Former No. 4) Berlin Philharmonic; Ra- Philharmonic offer a reading of less turbulent anderYoung(tenor),JosephRouleau fael Kubelik, cond. and more lyrical strain than we have become (bass). The Choir of St. John's College, used to in previous recordings. This is es- Cambridge; The Academy of St. Martin -in - 39 181; Stereo 139 181 peciallytrueoftheopening movement, the -Fields, George Guest cond. ARGOZRG DGG Records are distributed by MGM Rec- which is made to sound more poignant and 515 $5.79, RG 515* $5.79. ords, adivision of Metro -Goldwyn -Mayer less fierce by virtue of slower pacing and Performance:All outstanding Inc. Free on request! The new illustrated somewhat easier phrasing. This is not es- DGG; Archive Catalog. Write MGM Records/ Recording: All very good Iwill give Mr. Classical Division, 1350 Avenue ofthe pecially to my taste, but Stereo Quality: All good \Americas, New York City, 10019. Kogler full marks for the subtle way in which he handles rhythm, dynamics, and internal These are three of Haydn's last six Masses, CIRCLE NO. 16 ON READER SERVICE CAtiO HIFI/STEREO REVIEW

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