Three other great recordings
Claudio Abbado (conductor)
Claudio Abbado is not necessarily the first name to come to mind where Dvoˇrák is concerned. However, the Italian’s live 1995 recording of the Eighth stands out for its open-air quality and sense of adventure. The Allegretto grazioso third movement, perhaps the most difficult of the four to bring off successfully, has the feel of a Bohemian dance which somehow eludes many conductors.
The Berlin Philharmonic is at its virtuosic best throughout and Sony’s engineers have done a fine job, too. (Sony SK64303)
István Kertész (conductor)
The Hungarian conductor István Kertész, who died tragically young in a drowning accident at 43, is best remembered today for the first complete recordings of all the Dvoˇrák symphonies. The Eighth paved the way, after Decca’s producer Ray Minshull had heard him conduct it in concert – was Kertész happy to record the Dvoˇrák instead of a scheduled Elgar First? He was. Apart from some overbrightness in the violins, this 1963 version still sounds well and, while subtlety is not its strongest suit, it is
nonetheless one of the freshest and most direct accounts around. (Decca 475 7517)
Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor) Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra certainly knows its Dvoˇrák. On this evidence, each player can claim honorary Czech status, as can the conductor too. With Harnonourt’s reputation for controversy and sometimes sheer bloody-mindedness, one might not be prepared for such an enjoyable and trouble-free ride through the Czech countryside. One might perhaps question the slow tempo for the opening and a rushed one for the virtuoso flute variations in the Finale but, recorded live in 1998 with fine sound, this is a strong contender. (Warner Classics 3984244872)
And one to avoid…
Unfortunately, not even the Royal Concertgebouw’s legendarily ravishing tone can relieve the torpor of Carlo Maria Giulini’s 1990 account. Though scoring high marks for loving detail, the Italian’s approach nonetheless rates desperately low on vitality – in the ‘fast’ sections, the players barely break into a sweat. Whilst undeniably beautiful throughout, it’s all too autumnal for my taste.