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Dvorak - Slavonic Dances

~~£14.26~~ £11.95

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Label: Pentatone

Cat No: PTC5187414

Barcode: 8717306264143

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Orchestral

Release Date: 3rd October 2025

Works

Dvorak, Antonin

Slavonic Dances: Series I, op.46 B83
Slavonic Dances: Series II, op.72 B147

Artists

Czech Philharmonic

Conductor

Simon Rattle

Works

Dvorak, Antonin

Slavonic Dances: Series I, op.46 B83
Slavonic Dances: Series II, op.72 B147

Artists

Czech Philharmonic

Conductor

Simon Rattle

About

A celebration of Bohemian spirit and rhythmic brilliance, Antonín Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances come to life in a vibrant new recording by the Czech Philharmonic, led by the masterful Sir Simon Rattle. These vivid orchestral gems, full of rhythmic vitality, folkloric colour, and lyrical charm, are central to Dvořák’s legacy and pivotal in defining a Czech national sound. Composed at a turning point in the composer’s career, the Slavonic Dances radiate with joy, invention, and national character – qualities that captivated audiences across Europe and beyond. As Principal Guest Conductor: Rafael Kubelík Chair, Sir Simon Rattle has already graced the label alongside the orchestra and Magdalena Kožená with Czech Songs (2024) and Folk Songs (2023).

This release continues the exclusive collaboration between PENTATONE and the Czech Philharmonic (awarded Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year in 2024), committed to bringing Czech music to life on a global stage. It follows the acclaimed recordings of Dvořák’s Symphonies nos. 7, 8 & 9 (2024) and, 2025’s winner of the BBC Music Magazine Orchestral Award, Smetana’s Má vlast with Chief Conductor and Music Director, Semyon Bychkov, as well as Dvořák’s Legends and Rhapsodies with Tomáš Netopil.

Sound/Video

Paused

1

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.1 in C major (Furiant). Presto
2

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.2 in E major (Dumka). Allegretto scherzando
3

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.3 in A flat major (Polka). Poco allegro
4

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.4 in F major (Sousedská). Tempo di minuetto
5

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.5 in A major (Skočná). Allegro vivace
6

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.6 in D major (Sousedská). Allegretto scherzando
7

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.7 in C minor (Skočná). Allegro assai
8

Slavonic Dances (Series I), op.46, B83 (1878): No.8 in G minor (Furiant). Presto
9

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.1 in B major (Odzmek). Molto vivace
10

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.2 in E minor (Mazur). Allegretto grazioso
11

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.3 in F major (Skočná). Allegro
12

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.4 in D flat major (Dumka). Allegretto grazioso
13

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.5 in B flat minor (Špacírka). Poco adagio
14

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.6 in B flat major (Polonéza). Moderato, quasi minuetto
15

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.7 in C major (Srbské kolo). Presto
16

Slavonic Dances (Series II), op.72, B147 (1886): No.8 in A flat major (Sousedská). Lento grazioso, quasi tempo di valse

Europadisc Review

The collaboration between the illustrious Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pentatone label, which began in 2022, has already delivered abundant fruits. Chief conductor Semyon Bychkov’s ongoing Mahler cycle has won critical plaudits, and last year’s disc of Smetana’s Má vlast was similarly feted (including by us!). Now, with its principal guest conductor (and Rafael Kubelík Conducting Chair) Simon Rattle, they present another iconic work from the Czech repertoire: Antonín Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances. This is music that the orchestra has recorded dozens of times, and its earliest account, with Václav Talich in 1935 on HMV, still holds a very special place in the discography, as does their Supraphon remake of 1950, together with the superb 1959 stereo recording under Karel Šejna. Forty years later, Charles Mackerras – a pupil of Talich – put down another benchmark recording with the orchestra, authoritative yet wonderfully sensitive and pliant.

So, how does Rattle stack up against such venerable classics? Given that the Czech Phil could probably play this music in their sleep, does Rattle have insights of his own to bring? The answer is, most definitely, yes. There is, however, nothing forced about these performances. The earlier Op.46 set (1878) was Dvořák’s breakthrough work, composed at the suggestion of Brahms’s publisher Simrock, with the Czech composer riding high in the wake of an Austrian State grant which allowed him to focus on composition. With works like the Serenade for Strings and the lovely Fifth Symphony already under his belt, he brought a freshness of invention to these dances. Initially written and published in piano duet format, and then splendidly orchestrated, the eight dances are all original compositions in the spirit of folk dances, rather than quoting actual folk melodies.

Rattle completely gets the lightness of touch required to make this music dance, the sprung rhythms, the subtle rhythmic inflections, and (in the faster music, such as the two furiants that frame the set) the sheer energy and ebullience to bring this music to life. What is unique to this performance – aided by a finely focused recording in the Dvořák Hall of Prague’s Rudolfinum, without the swimminess that can sometimes come from that venue – is the attention to detail. In the coda to the opening Furiant, the underpinning timpani rhythm is crystal-clear. Gear shifts in the popular A flat major Polka (no.3) are immaculate, and the famous duet for trumpets has a marvellous dreamy quality; the written-out viola and cello trills in the coda (marked forzando, but rarely heard clearly on recordings) emerge with unprecedented clarity. The tossing of grace-note figuration between string and wind in the trio section of the minuet-like F major Sousedská (no.4) takes on a human quality (a cheeky call-and-response), without undermining the cellos’ lyrical countermelody. In the succeeding Skočná, the strings produce some gloriously ripe textures which nevertheless never drag down the tempo.

No.6 (another Sousedská) has just the right combination of rhythmic poise and village-dance atmosphere. The canonic writing in the C minor Skočná (no.7) is perfectly balanced yet with a hint of cheerfulness leading into the freer dance passages. The concluding G minor Furiant – probably the most famous music of all the Slavonic Dances – has all the necessary energy and excitement, but with an iron grip on the tempo, while the speed gently eases for the trio section, where once again inner parts are tellingly caught.

Composed in just a month in the summer of 1886 (once again, at Simrock’s suggestion), the Op.72 set is characterised by greater subtlety, particularly in the expressive depths of the slower music, yet Rattle and his Czech forces still bring plenty of sparkle and brio to their performances. Here too there are telling details: the rap of the timpani at the end of the lively opening Odzemek, for example, or the delicate inflections of phrasing in the wistful slow waltz of the following Mazur. In the F major Skočná (no.3), the timpani rhythm in the upbeat to the main theme is another seldom-heard detail (Doráti’s swifter 1983 RPO account, with poorly balanced wind, sounds too rushed).

In the later dances of the 1872 set, the mood of nostalgia deepens, and Rattle and his players bring wonderful colours to the dreamily-scored Dumka (no.4). The severe, knotty textures of the B flat minor Špacírka (no.5) are difficult to nail successfully, but the livelier central section, which returns at the end, brims with high spirits. The Polonéza of no.6 (marked ‘quasi Minuetto’) has an almost classical hue, yet Rattle finds plenty of enchanting detail to tease out of the music. The Serbian kolo (no.7) is a last blast of high spirits, another instance of great excitement and phenomenal playing immaculately controlled, while the concluding Sousedská, a nostalgia-laden slow waltz, is heart-stoppingly lovely: Rattle’s deep affinity with this music is nowhere more evident than here.

In sum, this is a superb release, vividly recorded, with the Czech Philharmonic on top form – less characterful in timbre, arguably, than seventy years ago, but compensating for that in levels of sensitivity and orchestral virtuosity. Rattle’s feel for Czech music just seems to get richer with time, and this disc now comfortably joins those august names mentioned at the outset. Thoroughly recommended!

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Condition	Description
New	Brand new item, only ever sourced from the official UK distributor. Usually seal-wrapped, although a minority of labels do not use seal-wrap.
Used - Mint	Used item in excellent condition. Not usually seal-wrapped.
Used - Good	Used item with some minor signs of wear and tear. Never seal-wrapped.
Used - Acceptable	Used item with obvious scuffs or cosmetic damage to the case or booklet. Never seal-wrapped.

Condition	Description
New	Brand new item, only ever sourced from the official UK distributor. Usually seal-wrapped, although a minority of labels do not use seal-wrap.
Used - Mint	Used item in excellent condition. Not usually seal-wrapped.
Used - Good	Used item with some minor signs of wear and tear. Never seal-wrapped.
Used - Acceptable	Used item with obvious scuffs or cosmetic damage to the case or booklet. Never seal-wrapped.

Dvorak - Slavonic Dances

In stock - available for despatch within 1 working day

Despatch Information

Contents

Works

Artists

Conductor

Works

Artists

Conductor

About

Sound/Video

Paused

Europadisc Review

Also Available

£14.26

£23.87

£14.26

£14.26

£11.91

Condition Information

Condition Information