DVORAK SYMPHONY NO. 8

An exhilarating performance by one of the giants of today's conductors

Given its first performance in Prague in 1890, Dvorak's Eighth sparkles with exuberance and lightness, especially when compared with its neighboring piece, the "New World" symphony.

The music of the Bohemian composer immediately takes command of the stage, with its wealth of melodies enthralling fans of symphonic music for many years now.

The two works on this recording were both written around 1890, while Dvorak's international celebrity was consistently growing. The Carnival Overture, in particular, is a sprightly and persistently good-natured work whose original title was "Life." It was the second in a trio of overtures entitled "Nature, Life and Love"– which is also what our conductor Mariss Jansons is seeking in his interpretation.

It is the moment of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, which was chosen by internationally renowned music critics as one of "the world's greatest orchestras." It came in sixth in an orchestral ranking sponsored by the journal Gramophone. And it is the moment of triumph of the great conductor Mariss Jansons.