With Masterworks Heritage titles going out of print rapidly, it’s good to know that Sony has elected to repackage this landmark set in regular jewel-box format. George Szell’s Dvorák performances feature his customary blend of razor sharp orchestral discipline allied to a wholly idiomatic, singing line. Even more interesting, he takes numerous liberties with Dvorák’s orchestration in the Seventh Symphony, reinforcing the violins and woodwinds with horns at several points in the outer movements. Some of his interpretive touches, such as the pianissimo reprise in the Eighth’s third movement, have even become performance “traditions”, reappearing in many subsequent readings by other artists. In short, you won’t find a more authoritative, urgently exciting, well-played collection of Dvorák’s last three symphonies at any price. The remastering has been managed with great care and is wholly successful. This is particularly gratifying with respect to the mono items, which include the Bartered Bride Overture and Szell’s own surprisingly colorful and uninhibited orchestration of Smetana’s First Quartet. Indispensable!
