DVORçK:  Symphony No. 1 in C Minor "The Bells of Zlonice."  Symphony No. 2 in B Flat, Op 4.  Symphony No. 3 in E Flat, Op. 10.  Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 13.  Symphony No. 5 in F, Op. 76.  Symphony No. 6 in D, Op. 60.  Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70.  Symphony No. 8 in G, Op. 88.  Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 "From the New World." Carnival Overture, Op. 92.  Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66.  My Home Overture, Op. 62.  In Nature's Realm, Op. 91
London Symphony Orch/Istv‡n Kertész, cond.
DECCA/LONDON 430 046 (6 CDs) (B) (ADD) TT:  7hrs. 12:06 

Hungarian conductor István Kertész had an impressive career in Augsburg before coming to the attention of Decca/London.  His first recording for them was Dvorák's Symphony No. 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic, March 22/24, 1961, an extraordinary performance available for several years at budget price on London's Weekend Classics series (417 678).  This series also included other fine early Kertész recordings with the London Symphony, including the two Brahms Serenades (421 628), and Respighi's Pines and Fountains of Rome plus The Birds (425 507). His recording of the Grieg and Schumann concertos with Julius Katchen and the Israel Philharmonic was in the catalog for years, although  not now available. 

Kertész was scheduled to record Elgar's Symphony No. 1 with the London Symphony.  The day before the sessions he conducted a concert containing Dvorák's Symphony No. 8; it was such a huge success that the decision was made to record it instead of the Elgar—plus the other Dvorák symphonies—all nine of which were recorded between February 1963 and November 1966.  Kertész was principal conductor of the LSO during the later sessions; he obviously had a remarkable relationship with the players. Most of the symphonies were new not only to the LSO, but to Kertész as well.  There is an element of spontaneity in these vivid performance, with tempi always on the brisk side, and a sense of discovery. In addition to the symphonies, other Dvorák works were recorded to fill out the LPs, some of which are included in this reissue (In Nature's Realm, Carnival Overture, My Home Overture, Scherzo capriccioso). He also recorded The Golden Spinning Wheel, Symphonic Variations, Hussite Overture, The Noon Witch, Othello Overture,  The Water Goblin and The Water Dove not included in this set. They would make a fine London/Decca "Double Decker."

A few years after the Decca Kertész recording, Philips did a complete  set of the symphonies with Witold Rowicki on the podium also with the London Symphony.  Symphonies 7, 8 and 9 are currently available in the Philips Duo Series (456 327). These performances  are superb, although I find the Kertész versions more dynamic and sonically superior. 

Kertész came to a sad demise.  Although a superb swimmer, he ignored warnings, swam out too far and could not make it back. Thus in April 1973 the world lost one of the top contenders for leadership of major orchestras, joining the ill-fated list of other outstanding artists whose careers were all too short (including Dennis Brain, Dinu Lipatti, Guido Cantelli, Ginette Neveu and Fritz Wunderlich), whose deaths were tragic losses for the musical world.

R.E.B. (October 2000)