The Moldau - Any suggestions, please?

From Ma Vlast by Smetana.

Kubelic, Boston Symphony Orcestra. DG from the 1970s. One of the best. avoid the Suprafon one with Neumann. Quite dull and lacking impetus, IMHO.

Ancerl on Suprafon is just as good as Kubelic - arguably even more brilliant and refined - but with an early sixties Eastern-block recording that is actually not even as good as HMV in London in 1930ish, but it remains "my" favourite. Try Amazon as some of these may be second hand only.

ATB from George

PS: Just tried the piece with my V1. Buy a V1 as there is nothing too bad about the recording! Ancerl, i mean!

Many thanks, George.

I have another recording by Neville Mariner but, as previously discussed, no human being should ever be put through one of his recordings unless they're suffering from serious "gastroenteritis".

KR

Tony

Marriner was brilliant at leading one take recordings with a pick-up band, but ultimately there are few great recording from him.

A great exception is the recording on Philips of the two serenades by Dvorak for strings, and the other in D minor for winds with double bass.

That is exceptional.. It was my very first CD [back in 1986], and even Ancerl or Talich do not better it!

ATB from George

I give you the benefit, George. As you probably know this is one of the few complete works of Handel's Messiah. Gotta give credit to him, it is very good indeed!

If you want a riveting Messiah, then grab the Klemperer that is currently available from EMI coupled with the Bach B Minor Mass and Saint Matt Passion.

But best of all in the Messiah line is Pinnock on DG. Hair raising, tender, profound and in a quite good recording ...

Catch ya soon. Got to go to work tomoz!

ATB

Goodnight, young George. Thanks for the help and safe cycling

KR

Tony

If I kill myself on a cycle, then I can hardly comment on music and performance here!

I have never sent someone to a dull performance on records!

ATB from G

Dobrenoc [Polish for Goodnight!].

I have little classical music, but the Moldau is one of my favorites. As it happens I have the same recording George recommended on CD. I think it's great, but please take George's word for it, not mine .

The CD is Musikfest 413 251-2. It's from a 1971 recording.

FWIW I also enjoy the rest of the music on this CD; Smetena's From Bohemia's Meadows and Forests, and Dvorak's Slavonic Dances Op 46 & 72 (Bavarian Radio Symphony, 1975).

I have not heard any of Kubelic´s recordings, but I have heard him conduct the entire Ma Vlast at a concert long time ago, and that was impressive.

My favorite recording is the one by Ferenc Fricsay(DG).

Fricsay

The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich (1941)

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations  and especially George, wherever he's gone now...

Yes , does anyone know, why he deleted his account that suddenly?