Edward Gardner conducts Dvořák & Schumann London Philharmonic Orchestra & Edward Gardner

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70:
• 1 Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70: I. Allegro maestoso 10:46
• 2 Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70: II. Poco adagio 09:32
• 3 Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70: III. Scherzo: Vivace 07:16
• 4 Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70: IV. Finale: Allegro 09:14
• Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856): Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61:
• 5 Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: I. Sostenuto assai - Allegro ma non Troppo 11:43
• 6 Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: II. Scherzo: Allegro vivace 06:45
• 7 Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: III. Adagio espressivo 09:03
• 8 Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61: IV. Allegro molto vivace 08:12
• Total Runtime 01:12:31

Info for Edward Gardner conducts Dvořák & Schumann

The Seventh might not be Dvořák’s most popular symphony, but it’s arguably his best. In the composer’s own mind, he simply had to deliver something special for the London Philharmonic Society, who had commissioned the piece in 1884. His career was at a crossroads: success had finally come, offers were being made, and contacts were putting themselves forward. Brahms and others were urging Dvořák to consider a move from his hometown of Prague to Vienna or Berlin. All Dvořák had to do – in his own mind – was prove that he could write first-class symphonic music already; music that didn’t rely overtly on indigenous Czech folk themes and that demonstrated a firm grasp of symphonic thought.

On that front, Dvořák more than succeeded with his Seventh Symphony. It was first performed on 22 April 1885 in St James’s Hall, London, and was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. As a symphony it’s near flawless, and certainly Dvořák’s most organic and well-argued. For that, the composer had Brahms to thank. Dvořák had recently heard Brahms’s Third Symphony, whose taut, concise and clear-cut structure is wholly evident here.

There are also a good few points of direct comparison: both symphonies contain radiant horn solos (you’ll hear Dvořák’s in his second movement) and both are stalked by a sense of underlying darkness.

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

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