Your presence/work here is precious, sir. Free, passionate, determined classes on classical music, one takes notes and it's in his hand to study and learn/enjoy further. And your manner is delightfully contagious. Thank you so much.

On December 16, 1892 you could buy a ticket for a dollar (about $30 in today's money) for a Friday afternoon concert of the NY Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. In the first half you'd hear Anton Seidl conduct Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto with Busoni as soloist, and in the second half hear the Dvorak Sixth with Dvorak conducting. Oh, to have a time machine.

This is one of those pieces, that when I heard it, I couldn't imagine that I hadn't heard it before. It was like lost treasure.

I was quite fortunate to perform this symphony twice in my career. Once 30 years ago with a "local" symphony and then 20 years ago with the Prague Symphony on their American tour - the tubist had to go back due to the sudden death of his father (which I'm sorry it happened, but was fortunate for me)- and I got called to come in and play one performance. Next to no rehearsal. I was fascinated to hear how people close to where Dvorak grew up handled this music. But 50 years ago, I absorbed Kertesz's performance. Glad to see this video!

You confirm me in my choice of a few years ago, I have symphonies 6 to 9 in this version, but in Blu Ray, and it sounds fantastic 🙏👍

Thanks Dave, wonderful video, and beautiful music that lifts me in troubled times. As a teenager I discovered Dvorak no. 5 and 6 from Istvan kertez. They are among my favorite symphonies of anyone period! Sometimes I think as you have stated, that Dvorak was the greatest well rounded composer of the late 19th century, masterworks in all forms and genres. For me, the Kertez and Rowicki recordings are my go to, ok Kubelik also. With Dvorak transitions are moments of wonder as is his moments where he slides from a bright major key, to a suddenly quiet darker minor tinged episode, just magical. Schubert like. When the 6th is played, I've never known anyone not to like it ! Paul G.

Thanks for a great survey! I'm so glad that Gerard Schwarz got a shout-out. It's such a wonderful recording, and I think that Schwarz is generally underrated, and I think that anyone who listens to the Schwarz Collection box will agree.

Chung’s 3rd and 7th were one of the highlights of DG’s so-so Vienna Box. The 6th and 8th were released around the same time and I feel are of the same caliber. Great tempi and fantastic sound. The Chung and Dohnanyi are the two recordings I come back to for the 6th.

I think Dvorak 6 has one of the best endings out there

I just happened to listen to Suitner's recording of Dvorak's Sixth Symphony today, before discovering your excellent video. The recording is a beauty and the symphony is a masterpiece.

Dave, I get the impression that you feel the Dvorak 6th is a beautiful piece 😉. In all seriousness, this symphony is an ethereal work. For many years I've considered Dvorak to be my go-to composer whenever I need an emotional lift, and the 6th symphony will frequently fill the bill. A friend who plays cello in the Philadelphia Orchestra once said that the vast majority of his fellow musicians would select Dvorak, if asked to choose which composer's works were universally the most enjoyable to play, and although I am not a professionally trained musician, from a listeners point of view I couldn't agree more. Finally, I wanted to convey my appreciation for all that you have done to enhance my appreciation of classical music! You've opened my eyes and ears to so many superb performances, and I especially enjoy your anecdotes that help me to understand the composer's thought process.

Yes The first orchestra I heard live was the Boston Symphony at Philharmonic Hall, NYC in 1968. Mozart “Linz” Prokofiev Third Piano Cnto, John Browning and Dvorak Sixth. Eric Leinsdorf conducting. Wow I was blown away. At the end of the Dvorak Leinsdorf jumped up and landed on the last chord ala L. Bernstein. That symphony performance was incredible for a teenage musician that has spent over 50 years in playing, making and loving Music!

The scherzo probably influenced Bernard Hermann on the music to Psycho. The prelude and where Marion is driving

Hello! This is such a great work and I was looking forward to your video on this piece. I have not heard the Kubelik live recording yet, but all of the other version you mentioned I have heard. The Ancerl being my personal favorite. What a beautiful recording that one is! You mention hearing Slatkin conduct this at Carnegie Hall. That performance was broadcast (I think in 1987) and I heard that broadcast. He knew what he was doing with this and it's too bad there is not a legitimate commercial recording with him (it looks like the SLSO issued a live version in a box set they produced around 10 years ago). Still an under-performed masterpiece. I've only had one opportunity to hear it in concert and that performance was under Yakov Kreizberg. We need more of this music. Take care!

Just finished listening to the Ančerl through the good offices of Qobuz and Audirvāna; lovely. This may be a CD I need to have on the shelf along with the many others I have added thanks to your invaluable recommendations. Thanks as ever!

Many thanks for your analysis of this wonderful symphony and your review of selected recordings. This is one of those where I can honestly say, "I never heard a recording of it I didn't like." My introduction to the piece was through an old RCA recording with Leinsdorf and the BSO. I had no standard of comparison at the time but I immediately fell in love with the work (and I never thought it sounded very much like Brahms). Kubelik, Kertesz, Rowicki, Dohnanyi, even Gunzenhauser manage to deliver the goods. If I had to pick one for the proverbial desert island it would probably be Rowicki. His rhythmic vitality and clarity of texture appeal to me in this and everything else by Dvorak he recorded. More Dvorak reviews, please!

David, I didn't realise that you had structured your video with complete cycles first, followed by couplings. I was counting down your recommendations, and found that I enjoyed Schwarz and C Davis the most. But then I hit the complete cycles and listened to Rowicki... Well, it blows Schwarz and Davis out of the water to my ears haha! But once again, thank you for showing such a wide range of recordings, and bringing back to me the joy of discovering great music. Edit: And Kertész is just as great as Rowicki!

Absolutely agree, the Cinderella symphony among the nine. Many thanks!

I was waiting for this! I just bought a singleton of this in a used record store since I didn’t own one - Andrew Davis and Philharmonia on Sony Essential Classics. It’s just ok - was eager to hear your opinion. Good timing!

Thanks for your talk on this marvelous symphony. I have always loved it and have Schwarz, Rowicki, and Kertesz recordings. Guess I’ll have to add Kubelik’s Orfeo, which I have been reluctant to do since I already have his DG of Janacek’s Sinfonietta. Based on the sampling I’ve done, the performance and sound are better in his live account of that work on Orfeo. Thanks, too, for pointing out the likeness of that transitional passage with the one in Beethoven’s Egmont Overture. It never occurred to me in all the countless times I’ve listened to both works!

Thanks again for the informative video. I will seek out some of these recordings. Eagerly waiting for your selections for the Beethoven 1 & 2 to complete the cycle.

Wonderful talk on one of my favorite symphonies. Thanks! Just a side note - Dave, you mentioned that the "live" Orfeo Kubelik was from 1991, but the one included in the Orfeo Kubelik "live" box lists the date as 1981. I wonder which is correct, I doubt that they are 2 different performances/recordings. Also a shout out to the analogue Neumann/Czech Philharmonic Dvorak 6 (contained in another Complete Dvorak symphonies Supraphon edition box) with many of the Ancerl attributes!

Dear Mr. Hurwitz: thanks again for a wonderful video. Dvorák's Sixth is one of my favourite symphonies; I learn the work through Ancerl's version which remains -for me- the best. Kubelik's BRSO live version is also magnificent. You didn't mention Neumann; I think it is superb (the analogue, 70's recording even better than the digital one). Sincere congratulations!

Love it, love it, love it!!! Great insights and analysis, David. I went back to your BEST symphony cycles video and heard your comments on the earlier ones. Are you going to be doing 1-4 individually as well?

I was sadly late coming to this symphony but have loved it ever since first hearing it. I am most familiar with the Kertesz cycle.

Excellent perspective on the contextual relationship and the misperceptions pertaining to Brahms/Dvorak. Luckily I came to the symphonies 5 through 9 at roughly the same time in the early Eighties because I bought them all at once and engaged them thusly.

6 and 7 are my favorite Tony D. symphonies. But heck, they're all really good.

Loved the comparison with Egmont Overture. Well spotted!

I once heard the sixth on the radio conducted by Smetacek. A hell of a ride to my ears. Absolutely stunning. Unfortunately there seems to be no available recording of it...

Brahms & Dvořák: The 19th Century's preeminent musical bromance.

I remember finding Dohnanyi's 6th in a used CD store probably in 2001 or 2002 but placed it on the shelf without a listen. Clearly, it's time to get that off the shelf. I streamed Nézet-Séguin's recording with the LPO. I find some of the LPO's in-house label's recording a touch muddy but it was decent. I need to hear the Ancerl but I really really like Charles Mackerras' CD of the 6th. The third movement is so exciting.

before this video, I was not aware of the Schwarz. Your descrition sounded interesting, and I was never fully satisfied with my Belohlavek/BBCSO, (too lightweight) so I gave it a shot...it's fantastic! So rich and deliberate, lots of grandeur without any loss of momentum. thank you for the heads up!

My local community orchestra did this once. I think most of the crowd never heard it. I never heard it, the reason i went.

Absolutely love your videos. Such a pleasure listening to your thoughts, and you’ve definitely expanded my love and appreciation for the wonderful world of classical music. Just out of curiosity, do you have any recommendations on the best way to purchase/access scores? I’m interested in digging into them while I listen.

Thank you Dave

David - I completely agree with you on the Kubelik performance; it is a gorgeous performance. In case anyone wants to buy it, I recently got a copy for under $17 (w/ shipping) on Amazon. Looks like other sellers (Discogs, Arkiv, etc) have it pretty cheap too.

Splendidly delivered analysis and recommendations again! I know it's subjective, but I miss my favorite, Myung Whun Chung's wonderful performance with the Wiener Philharmoniker on DG. I wish they'd complete a Dvorak symphony cycle back then in the 90s!

It would be super helpful if in the notes for the video you would include the names of these recordings. But thank you so much for these reviews. I’m very glad I stumbled upon your channel!

I think there's some telepathy in play here. Just yesterday I found the Ancerl D6 at a dump shop during a 10 cd's for 2,50 euros sale. Can't wait to listen to it!

Dave, It’s nice that you mentioned Leonard Slatkin performing it live. Have you heard his Sixth in the Slatkin Years set the SLSO released in the 90s? That’s my favorite rendition.

i haven't heard the Kubelik/Orfeo recording; I will give it a listen. My favorite for quite a while has been Pesek/Czech Phil; it came out on Virgin Classics in the early 90's, coupled with In Nature's Realm.

Dave, you were lucky enough to begin listening to Dvorak with the very best: Karel Sejna! Here we are, 70 years on, and nobody has beaten his Dvorak 5-7. The orchestra must have loved playing for him: they play their hearts out, and sound utterly free, more so than they ever did under Ancerl or Neumann. It's even worth listening thru Supraphon's murky and unbalanced sonics. Cudos for picking Kubelik/BRSO. His live Dvorak 6-9 on Orfeo are freeer, warmer and more exciting than the wonderful BPO studio recordings on DG. (Ditto for his live Mahler cycle, as well. I grew up with the Ancerl, whose customary razor-sharp discipline does not preclude warmth or charm...and boy, is it ever exciting!

When you vocalized the rhythm of the Scherzo I immediately thought of Bernard Herrmann’s rhythms in his opening credits (and later) music to HItchcock’s “North by Northwest.” Am I imagining things? Curious that I hadn’t made the connection when you played the recording.

Any thoughts on Pesek/Liverpool Phil cycle and the early Naxos Gunzenhauser/Slovak series? The Pesek is also remarkable value.

At the Finale's most thrilling moment (for me), Ancerl actually corrects a significant flaw in Dvorak's orchestration by briefly doubling the woodwinds with the 1st and 2nd violins. This passage, with heavy E-minor 7th chords in the full orchestra and the melodic motif assigned only to 6 woodwinds, occurs at 9:14-9:18 in Ancerl's recording. His use of the violins at this point reveals the true joy and excitement of this passage, absent from every other performance I've heard. Kubelik's woodwinds are buried, in Kertesz and MacKerras they are barely audible, Dohnanyi drops the rest of the orchestra down to p, Rowicki adds piccolo...ALL of these conductors attempting to clarify the texture and allow us to hear the actual melody at this glorious moment. But Ancerl alone decided to step in and solve the problem, and the result is fabulous...as is the rest of his performance; the 2nd Mvt is a tad rushed, but the finale is played with such astounding technical perfection you can barely believe you are listening to the playing of mortal musicians. LR

FWIW, the Orfeo recording is from October 1981, not 1991. New glasses?

I recently bought a used RCA Victor record of Toscanini conducting Dvorak's Symphony #5 - "from the new world"

i am happy Mr.Hurwitz that this forum (Thread)exists,all people in the world all classic fans can see your great discussions-Kertesz was my favorite,i like the Decca sound image ,one hears also the different groups by Phillips here Rowicki it was more in german: compact!For years i bought an LP,i buy nowadays also old classic LPs,i found Kosler not with Czech Philharmonic rather with Slovak Philharmonic also nowadays on Brilliant classic in a box,here Kosler plays i will say very folkloric and naturally with speed tempi,i hear this cyle very often,the orchestra sounds not so elegant like LSO but robust.

I really love this work and have played it a couple of times (as a cellist). But surely one has to admit the weaknesses of the last movement. The development section in particlular is just looking for somewhere to go!

My first version was Chung’s, which I love. But I understand why most of the others here have taken precedence. My only concern about the Davis is the dry recording, which I feel robs the music of its sparkle.

You ddidn´t mention Vaclav Neumann´s recording of the 6th with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Sept. 1982 and together with the 4th and 5th on a 2CD box from Supraphon, 1990. Why? I found this recording, both technically and musicially, to be excellent and well worth a listen.

The 3rd movement of Dvorak’s symphony sounds like one of his own Slavonic dances. It’s not only this furiant. The 3rd movement of Brahms’s symphony dose not sound like one of his Hungarian dances. I think it is Dvorak’s original idea to put the folk dance into the symphony. Am I wrong? Thanks for the interesting video.

A Dvorak review? Is it Christmas!!??

To be honest, everything that Ancerl/CzPO did is my favorite version

I'm halfway through but I must have missed a recent episode. When did Universal finally acquiesce in and/or consent to the use of musical samples? That is big news.

How about the Neumann with CPO? You were raving about Dvorak’s fifth

Dvorak symphonies are usually under-rated. May be they are not so "serious" as the big guys (Beet, Brahms, Shotakovich Mahler, Brrrruuuuckner, etc) but are nice, great, fun, full of passion, entertaining and completely enjoyable.

Dear Mr. Hurwitz. As always fantastic video. During the last year, you made Dvorak, a new absolute hero of mine. I still remember when you rated Dvorak as a more extraordinary composer than Brahms. Given your love for Brahms. I was shocked, and now I'm converted. May we assume that Universal finally gave permission? It would enrich your already fantastic work.

The Kubelík Dvořák Symphonies DG box liner notes, copyrighted in 1973 by Prof. Karl Schumann (1925-2007) and still used in the no-frills 1998 box, seems typical: “Dvořák, with the emotional directness of his Slavic nature, open-hearted and filled with the urge to pour out his feelings in music, was too naive to experience the doubts which afflicted other composers when it came to tackling the problems of the symphony - for example Beethoven, and later Brahms, Bruckner and Franck, each of whom took up the challenge of symphonic form for the first time only after a long period of self-examination.” That’s ONE, ten line sentence about der slawisch-emotional Ausdrucksdrang. Note to DG: update the essay.

A lot of connoisseurs seem to rate Symphony No. 7 Dvorak’s finest, but I greatly prefer the 6th; more beautiful, more attention-grabbing. The cup doth run over a bit on recordings even though most of us may never hear it live. For maestros who still walk among us, Naxosians Alsop and Schwarz both have lovely perspectives and it’s fun to compare and contrast them both. I’ve actually never heard the live Kubelic on Orfeo, which I shall now make my morning listening if available to stream.

The opening theme of the first movement always reminds me of the opening of Paganini's Caprice No.23 for Unaccompanied Violin.

Very well said introduction ! Beautiful symphony. As a symphonist Dvorak surpasses Brahms IMHO