[dB Cooper]

Looking for Dvorak 'New World' version recommendations, with a preference towards digitally recorded versions (unless you know a version that has particular historical significance).

If you have a favorite Dvorak Cello Concerto release, feel free to toss that in too. Thanks.

[FullRangeMan]

Not a particular Dvorak fan but would rec Michael Tilson Thomas, for historical look Bruno Walter 1959 (New World).

[MttBsh]

For many years I've enjoyed the recordings of Dvořák: Symphonies 1-9 by Neeme Järvi conducting the Scottish National Orchestra. From The New World is by far the most popular/well known of Dvorak's symphonies and because of that, many haven't even listened to 1-8. I prefer his 7th symphony, and actually they are all really good... I 'd recommend you don't limit yourself to just #9.

[dB Cooper]

Not to worry MttBsh; I am a Dvorak fan and will check out #7 afterwards, I happened to hear a radio pice about the NWS and its history today so I was starting there.

MttBsh, I'm also a fan of the Cello Concerto and 'Silent Wood' (do you know that piece?) I found a 'complete symphonies' edition by the Scottish and Järvi that may be the release you are talking about.

[S Clark]

Fritz Reiner on RCA is good... and available in all formats.  Even excellent original pressings are around $25

[dB Cooper]

Mr. Spock would have a hard time calculating the odds of vinyl happening at my house again, but I will see if it's on Qobuz. Thanks

[rotarius]

Here are the acclaimed ones but not for audiophile Sonics. 
Istvan Kertesz/LSO
Karajan with Berlin and later Vienna for uber polished versions, he has his detractors.
Kubelik/ Berlin
Try Ivan Fischer/Budapest Festival for sonics.

Yes, his 7th and 8th symphonies are fantastic.  7th is my favorite.

[Randy]

Nothing but the best.

[Tyson]

Nothing but the best.

Listen to this man.

[SeagoatLeo]

Kertesz and Kubelik made wonderful 9ths on London.  For opposites (slow versus fast versions) the stereo Fricsay and the stereo Paray are great examples.  I have the Szell, Reiner and Walter, all good in their own ways as well.

[MTVhike]

Fritz Reiner on RCA is good... and available in all formats.  Even excellent original pressings are around $25

This performance has been released by RCA in SACD format as part of their re-release of historic recordings.

[Craig B]

I think the Reiner/Chicago is the touchstone, whether on RCA Living Stereo (LP, CD, SACD) or JVC's XRCD2. Though I just added a new one to my library that isn't bad - Marin Alsop and the Baltimore on Naxos. I've been a fan of hers for some time (she used to guest conduct with our Indianapolis Symphony on a semi-regular basis), and I'm enjoying her interpretation. The sound is good, but not the equal of that old Reiner recording. Presto Music had Naxos releases on sale recently (they may still), so it wasn't a big risk.

[Mike-48]

Among modern versions, I particularly like this one, on the BIS label:



It has won numerous awards, and as usual the sound from BIS is quite good.


Regarding the Cello Concerto, I like the recording by Anne Gastinel on Naive. I am a fan of her playing on various recordings.



None of that is to take away from the many classic versions by legendary musicians. Still, I do appreciate modern sound on a recording, as long as the performance is engaging. And I do not find those re-issues from the LP era as uniformly convincing as some do -- I appreciate the pitch stability of a good digital recording.

[MTVhike]

I think the Reiner/Chicago is the touchstone, whether on RCA Living Stereo (LP, CD, SACD) or JVC's XRCD2. Though I just added a new one to my library that isn't bad - Marin Alsop and the Baltimore on Naxos. I've been a fan of hers for some time (she used to guest conduct with our Indianapolis Symphony on a semi-regular basis), and I'm enjoying her interpretation. The sound is good, but not the equal of that old Reiner recording. Presto Music had Naxos releases on sale recently (they may still), so it wasn't a big risk.

Are you saying that the audio quality of the old Reiner recording is better? It was recorded in 1957!

[FullRangeMan]

Are you saying that the audio quality of the old Reiner recording is better? It was recorded in 1957!

IMO analogue masters always result in better sound than low rez digital when mastered tô SACD, many DG digital never câme tô SACD light due poor results,  mainly the 4D recordings.

[SeagoatLeo]

By low rez, do you mean MP3 or CD digital quality?  I have made many 16/44 recordings using a solid state recorder and DAT, simply miked (and my friend made great recordings using a similar system with four $8k tube AKG mikes for chamber orchestra/soloist/choral recordings) that sound GREAT!  However, they do have sonic signature different from analog.  No digital echo is used and no plate echo either (just great recording hall acoustics).  There are too many variables that I would say go into making a great recording if the resolution is deemed inferior (CD quality).  High end CD playback today proves that (except to Michael Fremer and others who believe digital is always inferior potentially tp analog).  I happen to prefer the Decca, RCA and Mercury versions of Dvorak 9ths that I have from the late 1950s and early 1960s.  That doesn't mean the sound of well engineered digital recordings aren't just as good.  I think digital echo is one of the worst things modern recordings can have together with signal compression and  improperly used noise filtering (sonic solutions). 

[firedog]

Fairly new ones and good ones:
Baltimore Symphony, Alsop
National Symphony Orchestra, Noseda
Seattle Symphony, Morlot
Budapest Festival Orchestra, Fischer
Concerto Budapest, Keller
Malaysian Philharmonic, Flor
Czech Philharmonic, Belohlavek
Czech Philharmonic, Neumann
Bavarian Radio Symphony, Nelsons

old one, with new digital version:
London Symphony Orchestra, Ludwig
other olds:
Columbia Symphony, Walter
Chicago Symphony, Reiner

[Craig B]

Are you saying that the audio quality of the old Reiner recording is better? It was recorded in 1957!

In my opinion, it is the rare modern recording that betters the sound of the old RCA Living Stereo and Mercury Living Presence recordings. They're head and shoulders above all other work from that time period.

[MTVhike]

In my opinion, it is the rare modern recording that betters the sound of the old RCA Living Stereo and Mercury Living Presence recordings. They're head and shoulders above all other work from that time period.

How about the (relatively) recent two recordings on BIS? Hi resolution FLAC downloads or SACD.

[Craig B]

How about the (relatively) recent two recordings on BIS? Hi resolution FLAC downloads or SACD.

I haven't heard them, though BIS usually does a really good job. I don't think I've ever bought a bad performance or recording from them.

I don't typically check out new recordings of this piece. I already have several (two copies of the Reiner/CSO performance, one recording with Marriner and the Minnesota on Philips, one with Dohnanyi and the Cleveland, and one with Otmar Suitner and the Staatskapelle Berlin), and I can't listen to the piece often because it's pretty overplayed everywhere. The main reason I got the download of the Alsop version because I like her work in general, and I thought it might be a little fresh in its approach.

To the OP's other question, about the Cello Concerto, I have a pretty nice performance/recording on Telarc by Zuill Bailey, performed with our own Indianapolis Symphony under Jun Markl. And Ma's recording on Sony with Masur and the NYP is a favorite, too.