Dvořák in America (Symphony No. 9, Cello Concerto in B minor, String Quartet "American", Te Deum)

Antonín Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World"; Te Deum, Op. 103; String Quartet No. 12 in F major, "American", Op. 96; Sonatina in G major for Violin and Piano, Op. 100; String Quintet in E flat major, "American", Op. 97; Rondo in G minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 94; Silent Woods for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68/5; Humoresque in G flat major, Op. 101 No. 7; Suite in A major for Orchestra, Op. 98b; Cello Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 104

G. Beňačková - soprano, J. Souček - baritone, J. Suk - violin, viola, J. Hála - piano, M. Sádlo, J. Chuchro - cello, Panocha Quartet and Smetana Quartet, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / V. Neumann, J. Bělohlávek, Prague Philharmonia / J. Hrůša

The "From the New World" symphony, Cello Concerto in B minor, the "American" quartet... A title with such a selection could without the slightest exaggeration bear the designation"The Best of Dvořák". It almost defies belief that all these compositions, which brought Dvořák world fame, were written within a mere three years (1892-95) during his sojourn in America. The music is extremely inspired and profound, perfectly built and immensely amiable for the listener - simply beautiful. It reflects the powerful new sources of inspiration Dvořák discovered inAmerica, yet also echoes homesickness, missing the family and familiar landscape. Josef Suk, the Panocha Quartet, the Czech Philharmonic under Václav Neumann and Jiří Bělohlávek - such names are a guarantee of a profound tradition of performing Dvořák's music.

Accordingly, these 3 CDs comprise the gems of the most international of Czech composers as interpreted by artists who furtherspread and are still spreading the fame of Dvořák's music worldwide, from America to Japan.