DVORAK. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World". London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Witold Rowicki. Philips SAL3762 (43s. 9d.).

Selected comparisons:

LSO, Kertesz (11/67) SXL6291

New Philh, Dorati (1/68) PFS4128

LSO, Ormandy (4/69) 61053

It is surprising at this stage of New World competition to find Philips putting out a new version at full price without a coupling. As his previous Dvoiik records have shown, Rowicki has a straight, fresh manner which is undistractingly agreeable, but quite apart from price and value there is little here to make me prefer this to the three rival accounts listed above. Both the first two movements start rather casually and only later work up their full intensity. Rather like Kertesz, Rowicki brings out the rustic Czech flavours more than usual, though his mannered view of the second idea in the scherzo (as slow as I have ever heard it) breaks out from the general character of the performance. Good recording and good playing by the LSO, but then they played just as well for both Kertesz and Ormandy. I suggest Kertesz (coupled with the overture Othello) as the best general recommendation; Ormandy (on the CBS Classics label without coupling) for a uniquely warm and intense account of the slow movement. Rowicki, like Kertesz but unlike Ormandy, makes the exposition repeat in the first movement. E.G.