EMI ASD 347: Kubelik's Rare and Expensive Hungarian Dances
Brahms: Hungarian Dances
Dvorak: Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3, Scherzo Capriccioso
Rafael Kubelik, conductor
Royal Philharmonic OrchestraPressing: ED1, white/gold label
Condition: EX
Date first published: 1960
Stampers:
2YEA 242-10
2YEA 243-2
Performance: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Price range: $37-510 (mean $210) on popsike.com
Comments: Here is another valuable release from whom I call one of EMI's "4 K's". Rafael Kubelik conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in dynamic performances of a selection of Brahms' Hungarian Dances (#5, 6, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21) and Dvorak's Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3 (not to be confused with his Slavonic Dances) and Scherzo Capriccioso. This is not an easy one to find nor does it surface all that often on the online auctions, but it is worth seeking out if you have the funds. The repertoire is quite enjoyable (if you are in that Bohemian sort of mood), and the sound is rich and warm and full of what my colleague Miles would call "tube magic". Beautiful front cover art, too! This one has to be my favorite Kubelik EMI release on vinyl.
As a side note, you may be interested to know that Warner Classics is about to release the complete HMV recordings of Rafael Kubelik as part of its Icons CD box set series. This is slated for release in October in both the US and Europe and should be interesting. I'm curious to see how many of the recordings have been newly remastered. Regardless, it will be very nice to have all of these recordings compiled together for the first time.
A common combination. I've got the classic reissue of the RCA. I am not sure what is the best combination of LPs to acquire these pieces. I'll have to explore the collection on this one. For those not on a budget the record under review might be the one.
ReplyDeleteI must say I am not a huge fan of Kubelik on London/Decca. Most of the recordings just aren't great and I do not care fo r his Dvorak New World.
Which RCA are you referring to? I don't recall that Brahms' Hungarian Dances were recorded for Living Stereo. I agree with your assessment of Kubelik on Decca ... his better recordings were for DG in the 60s-70s, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe Dvorak Slavonic Dances which I suppose is not the Slavonic Rhapsody on this record. Well there is Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody with Stokowski which is not Brahms.... Bartok Hungarian Sketches.... There is a Mercury of Hungarian Dances. Reiner does both Dances on a blue back LP. I am not sure any of these are strong competition.
DeleteIs the Kubelik the best by far for Brahms Hungarian Dances? (Its sounding like it) I think a lot of LPs will have a Hungarian Dance thrown in just to confuse matters.
I don't know of too many analog recordings of the Hungarian Dances. Reiner's, as you mentioned, is also a nice recording, though I have yet to do a head to head comparison. The selections on the Reiner are a little bit different, though, as he does #5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 21, and 1, and on the other side he conducts select Slavonic Dances by Dvorak . I'm pretty sure that Dorati's on Mercury is more comprehensive, with both sides of the LP dedicated to the Hungarian Dances. Both the Dorati and the Reiner are contenders, in my opinion.
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