Dvorak’s career was a worldwide success. He wrote his cello concerto in New York, it was rehearsed in Prague and premiered in London. Always full of tender feelings for his home country he lived an international life. He avoided speaking German though when possible and would never accept a job in Vienna. His cello concerto would become hugely popular all over the world and has occupied a significant place in the gallery of 19th century masterpieces. It took him four months to write but that reflects a freshness, a rise and shine attitude rather than the neurotic speed of city life. No teutonic bombast (Berlin), no Mahlerian pathos (Vienna), but healthy abundance of energy. Dreams but no Freud, profundity but no Angst. The orchestra is large and powerful, but this most symphonic of cello concertos doesnt become a David and Goliath freak show. The tuttis can be seen as the background for a journey. The landscapes, by night or day, under moon or sunlight are sometimes awesome but never hostile and occasionally the hero revels in a heart-warming village party. There is also room for reflection and intimacy; the solo cello is beautifully supported both in song and prayer. (…) Pieter Wispelwey
01. Cello Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191: I. Allegro 15:15
02. Cello Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191: II. Adagio ma non troppo 11:46
03. Cello Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191: III. Finale. Allegro moderato 13:27
04. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Tema. Lento e molto tranquillo 0:37
05. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation I. Un poco più mosso quasi allegretto 0:30
06. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation II 0:31
07. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation III 0:29
08. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation IV. Più allegro 0:32
09. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation V 0:21
10. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation VI 0:45
11. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation VII. Tempo primo 0:30
12. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation VIII 0:46
13. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation IX. Tempo primo 0:26
14. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation X. Vivace 0:24
15. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XI. Meno mosso, quasi Tempo primo – Più animato 0:51
16. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XII. Poco andante 0:44
17. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XIII. Allegro 0:25
18. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XIV. Lento 0:53
19. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XV. Maestoso, l’istesso tempo 0:54
20. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XVI. Vivace 0:16
21. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XVII. Scherzo. Allegro vivace 0:45
22. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XVIII. Larghetto 0:45
23. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XIX. Tempo di Valse 0:38
24. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XX. Più animato 0:18
25. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XXI. L’istesso tempo 0:19
26. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XXII. L’istesso tempo 0:32
27. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XXIII. L’istesso tempo 0:40
28. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XXIV. Andante 2:10
29. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XXV. Più mosso, quasi allegretto 0:28
30. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XXVI 0:39
31. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Variation XXVII. Moderato l’istesso tempo 0:35
32. Symphonic Variations in C Major, Op. 78, B. 70: Finale. Allegro maestoso – Allegro con fuoco 4:29