[dsphipps100]

The Dohnanyi/Cleveland is indeed very good, or if you prefer, George Szell also recorded both pieces (and the 9th "New World") with Cleveland as well. The Szell would probably be the musically superior of the two (although Dohnanyi is certainly no hack), while the Dohnanyi will offer the better sound quality.

As for Kertesz vs. Kubelik, having heard both sets, I find that each conductor is, in his own way, roughly equally fine. One factor that might make a difference depending on one's listening taste is that Kertesz recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra while Kubelik recorded with the Berliner Philharmoniker. So if you have a strong preference between those two orchestras, then that might tip the scale for you.

 

[Brahmsian Colors]

No.7: Szell/Cleveland Orchestra and Bernstein/N.Y. Philharmonic.
No.8: Kertesz/London Symphony and Kubelik/Berlin Philharmonic.

 

[Heck148]

#7: Monteux/LSO, also Kertesz/LSO is really good.
#8: Kertesz/LSO; also Giulini/CSO, Szell/Cleveland

 

[Pugg]

​

This one and István Kertész

 

[Heck148]

​

This one and István Kertész

Dorati/LSO #8 is very good. haven't heard it in awhile...

 

[Brahmsian Colors]

Another solid positive for Dorati/London Symphony performance of Dvorak Eighth.

 

[Pugg]

Dorati/LSO #8 is very good. haven't heard it in awhile...

The sound is amazing, as is the performance of course.

 

[Ralphus]

#7 - I love Harnoncourt (Teldec/Warner)
#8 - I really like Chung (DG, coupled with a lovely #6)

 

[Klassik]

Musically speaking, Pesek's recordings of 7 & 8 with the Royal Liverpool PO are very good. The sound quality is a tad bit thin though. It's not bad, but you might find Kertesz, Szell, and Dorati to be better. I say that if you get the Pesek recordings (it's a wonderful set for a very good price), listen to them at a slightly higher volume than what you're used to. That mostly offsets the thinness.

 

[Olias]

Mackerras has a great live recording of the 8th (and 9th).

 

[njk345]

I really like Sir Colin Davis & LSO for the 7th

 

[Jerry]

I've spent a happy morning trying out various 8ths on Spotify.
Most are duffers, to be honest, just too slow and dreary to a greater or lesser extent for such gloriously joyous music.
It's Kertesz for me. With Kubelik not far behind. Shame about the sound with Talich - but he does get a bit frantic at times!
But have a go with Barbirolli - Glorious John does a mighty fine job and in good sound, too. Upbeat and exhilarating, keeps the pace up - very nice indeed. A close second for me.

 

[Jerry]

For the 7th.
Colin Davis on Philips.
Dark and broodingly atmospheric.
Sound quality rather over-emphasises the bass line at times, though

Taking sound quality into account, Zdenek Macal with the Czech Phil on Exton is excellent.
Lots of good recordings of the 7th - it seems an easier symphony to attain excellence with than the 8th.

 

[Steve Wright]

I've spent a happy morning trying out various 8ths on Spotify.
Most are duffers, to be honest, just too slow and dreary to a greater or lesser extent for such gloriously joyous music.
It's Kertesz for me. With Kubelik not far behind.

I have these two, both very fine. And I agree, you want a good 8th to have plenty of exuberance. I learned the piece from Dohnanyi and Cleveland - and they must have done a good job as I adore it, and haven't particularly found a version I prefer. Anyone know Dohnanyi's recordings of the last three?

 

[Minor Sixthist]

For the eighth, I enjoy Vienna with Karajan.

 

[Brahmsian Colors]

I've spent a happy morning trying out various 8ths on Spotify.
Most are duffers, to be honest, just too slow and dreary to a greater or lesser extent for such gloriously joyous music.
It's Kertesz for me. With Kubelik not far behind. Shame about the sound with Talich - but he does get a bit frantic at times!
But have a go with Barbirolli - Glorious John does a mighty fine job and in good sound, too. Upbeat and exhilarating, keeps the pace up - very nice indeed. A close second for me.

Ditto,ditto,ditto---Kertesz/London Symphony, Kubelik/Berlin Philharmonic, Barbiroll/Halle Orchestra>>>TRIFECTA :tiphat:

 

[silentio]

I will go with the authentic, legendary Vaclav Talich.

 

[AfterHours]

For the 7th, Vaclav Neumann, this one:

 

[spectral]

I registered to comment in this topic.

I remain disappointed with the Von Dohnanyi and Cleveland Orchestra. I bought the CD blindly many years ago and found it quite inferior to the Horvat/ORF I already had from the 90s.

Talich/Czech is a pass for the first two movements (too fast — ending of first is harsh) but his third is interesting and the fourth also. I'd rank his waltz movement over Kertész's.

I'm listening to the Kubelik/Berlin for the first time and it seems heavy-handed. I'll have to listen to the rest of it to be sure and more performances. So far I'm sticking with the cheap Excelsior disc (Horvat/ORF) despite the grainy compressed analog.

 

[Enthusiast]

You can't go wrong with Kertesz in Dvorak but Kubelik's 8 is special. And in fact there are just so many great recordings of Dvorak 8 and 9. Celibidache's Munich recording of 9 is wonderful, for example. And the Suitner Dvorak symphony set is very worth listening to.