VA - Ultimate Dvorak: The Essential Masterpieces (2007) (5 CD Box Set)

Ultimate Dvorak: The Essential Masterpieces. The title alone lends itself to all kinds of problems. Who decides which of Dvorák's compositions are indeed his "essential" ones? Are the performances of these masterpieces also the ultimate? This five-disc collection by Decca is certainly an adequate introduction to some of Dvorák's most popular works: the final three symphonies, the cello concerto, and the Serenade for Strings. What's more noticeable is what's missing; despite Dvorák's rather significant contribution to chamber music, this genre is passed up in favor of lesser-known works like the Op. 44 Wind Serenade or both the Op. 46 and Op. 72 Slavonic Dances. The actual performances throughout the five CDs are, again, adequate. The London Symphony Orchestra, heard performing the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth symphonies, suffers from some unusual and unexpected balance problems. Julian Lloyd Webber's interpretation of the Cello Concerto is neither remarkably in tune, nor musically enthralling. The highlight of the collection is the beautifully performed Serenade for Strings with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Apart from its bargain price, however, most listeners may do better shopping for Dvorák's "essential masterpieces" using the a la carte method: choose superior performances of fewer works rather than passable performances of more compositions.

Tracklist:

CD1
01. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.7 in D minor - i. Allegro maestoso
02. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.7 in D minor - ii. Poco adagio
03. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.7 in D minor - iii. Scherzo (Vivace)
04. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.7 in D minor - iv. Finale (Allegro)
05. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.9 in E minor 'New World' - i. Adagio - Allegro molto
06. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.9 in E minor 'New World' - ii. Largo
07. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.9 in E minor 'New World' - iii. Scherzo (Molto vivace)
08. London Symphony - Rowicki - Symphony No.9 in E minor 'New World' - iv. Allegro con fuoco



CD2
01. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Symphony No.8 in G major - i. Allegro con brio
02. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Symphony No.8 in G major - ii. Adagio
03. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Symphony No.8 in G major - iii. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace
04. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Symphony No.8 in G major - iv. Allegro ma non troppo
05. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - i. Allegretto non troppo, quasi andantino
06. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - ii. Molto moderato
07. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - iii. Allegro giusto
08. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - iv. Molto maestoso
09. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - v. Allegro giusto
10. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - vi. Allegro con moto
11. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - vii. Allegretto grazioso
12. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - viii. Un poco allegretto e grazioso
13. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - ix. Andante con moto
14. London Philharmonic - Leppard - Legends, Op.59 - x. Andante



CD3
01. Julian Webber - Czech Philharmonic - Neumann - Cello Concerto in B minor - i. Allegro
02. Julian Webber - Czech Philharmonic - Neumann - Cello Concerto in B minor - ii. Adagio ma non troppo
03. Julian Webber - Czech Philharmonic - Neumann - Cello Concerto in B minor - iii. Finale (Allegro moderato)
04. Czech Philharmonic - Neumann - Polonaise from Rusalka, Op.114
05. Czech Philharmonic - Neumann - Carnival Overture, Op.92



CD4
01. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.1 in C major
02. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.2 in E minor
03. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.3 in A flat major
04. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.4 in F major
05. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.5 in A major
06. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.6 in D major
07. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.7 in C minor
08. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.46 - No.8 in G minor
09. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.1 in B major
10. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.2 in E minor
11. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.3 in F major
12. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.4 in D flat major
13. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.5 in B flat minor
14. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.6 in B flat major
15. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.7 in C major
16. Leipzig Gewandhaus - Masur - Slavonic Dances Op.72 - No.8 in A flat major



CD5
01. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Strings in E major - i. Moderato
02. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Strings in E major - ii. Tempo di valse
03. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Strings in E major - iii. Scherzo (Vivace)
04. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Strings in E major - iv. Larghetto
05. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Strings in E major - v. Finale (Allegro vivace)
06. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Wind in D minor - i. Moderato, quasi marcia
07. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Wind in D minor - ii. Minuetto (Tempo di minuetto)
08. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Wind in D minor - iii. Andante con moto
09. Academy of St Martin - Marriner - Serenade for Wind in D minor - iv. Finale (Allegro molto)