DVORAK. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, ® "From the New World". London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Witold Rowicki. Philips Universo 6580 259 (2-45). From SAL3762 (1/70).

It was unfortunate that Rowicki's distinguished set of the Dvofak Symphonies, issued on separate discs in the late sixties and early seventies, arrived just when we were relishing the brilliant exuberance of Kertesz's readings on Decca. In any direct comparisons I almost invariably found myself preferring the Hungarian conductor. But I hope this issue of the New World on Universo heralds a sequence of reissues: the early symphonies would be particularly welcome in such bargain versions.

Needless to say, in the New World the competition could hardly be keener, and among the bargain versions which have specially strong claims I would list Giulini and the Philharmonia on HMV Concert Classics (SXLP30163, 7/74), Jascha Horenstein and the RPO on RCA Gold Seal (GL25060, 7/77) and Bruno Walter and the Columbia Symphony on CBS Classics (61234, 12/77), each in its way even more characterful than this Rowicki reading. But one point of advantage lies in the relative modernity of the Philips recording, and unless my memory deceives me it sounds even more refined than it did originally. Rowicki makes it clear at the very start that this is not a big-scale reading. A relatively lightweight account of the introduction ends in a more marked accelerando than usual, which then leaves one slightly surprised than the first subject at the main tempo is not a shade faster. Many will warmly approve that Rowicki more than most keeps a steady tempo after that, and as I said in my original review the rustic Czech flavour in the music is brought out even more than usual. It is a performance I have enjoyed rehearing even more than I expected. Though there is no coupling, it is worth noting that Rowicki, unlike the rivals I listed, observes the exposition repeat in the first movement. E.G.