Streaming the Classics: Antal Dorati
Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work or artist and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.
These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.
A few criteria:
The recording must be on Apple Music, Qobuz or Tidal HiFi.
It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.
No more than ten recommendations in no particular order.
One of the pleasures of life in music is being able to reminisce about concerts and performances that have stayed in the memory over the years. One of my favourite memories was performing Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in London’s Royal Albert Hall with Antal Dorati and the RPO in the early eighties. Although an old man by then, Dorati was still a box office draw and one of the few conductors still appearing from the golden age of forty years previously. He sensibly kept away from the musical scrums of New York and Chicago and maintained a truly international career until his death in Switzerland in 1988 at the age of 82.
His years as Music Director of the Minneapolis Symphony produced many fine recordings but it is his performances with European orchestras that are mostly remembered today. We will explore ten of his finest performances streaming today from the major sites as well as some CDs still available for those preferring hard copies for their collections.
Dorati was born in Budapest in 1906 to musical parents and entered the Franz Liszt Academy studying with Kodály and Bartók which resulted in many collaborations in later years and helped confirm Bartók as one of the major forces in 20th century music.
He made his debut in the opera house at the age of eighteen and from then he never looked back, becoming Music Director of the Ballet Russe in 1937. This experience gave him an unparalleled understanding of the ballet repertoire and when he moved on to the American Ballet Theatre in 1941, the seeds had been sown for his later ballet creations and recordings.
His first major orchestra job was with the Dallas Symphony in 1945 and he spent the rest of his life leading major orchestras on both sides of the Atlantic with much success.
Here are the ten performances which I think display his wide repertoire and abilities.
One of Dorati’s greatest achievements was recording the complete symphonies of Haydn with the Philharmonia Hungarica. This set from Decca gives a fine introduction to the complete set which is now streaming but still available if you like hunting on the internet for copies at reasonable prices. They are stylish and energetic performances with good taste and drama when needed. An essential for every collector
These performances are available as a set and so I’m including them all, however, Dorati’s conducting of Symphony No. 1 is to my mind superb with taught playing and high energy from the LSO and no self-indulgence. This goes for all the others and this set should be in every Brahms lovers collection. The 2nd is played by the Minneapolis Symphony.
Dorati recorded this with the LSO and his total grasp of the score comes through in the shape and vivid textures of the individual orchestral writing which the LSO brings off with great style. It’s interesting to note that Stravinsky himself was still appearing conducting this with the LSO and other major orchestras. Monteux was the orchestra's principal conductor around this time, so Dorati had some competition!
This two-disc set on Mercury Living Presence is still a top choice for the early Tchaikovsky symphonies. Dorati has a real feeling for Tchaikovsky and he conducts them with energy and real drive which gives them a powerful punch. The LSO again provides him with excellent support.
Dorati was a fine Beethoven conductor and his early recording of the Eroica with the Minnesota Orchestra (AKA Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra but streamed as the Minnesota Orchestra) is both powerful and brisk with a fine slow movement which the orchestra plays with particular emotion.
Dorati partners with Yehudi Menuhin and the Minneapolis orchestra for this recording which brings together two of Bartók's most fervent performers in a fine performance of the Violin Concerto No. 2 and the Second Suite. All Bartók fans should have this in their collection.
Dorati was the principal conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1963 until 1966 and the BBC afforded him opportunities to explore repertoire that was not always mainstream. Dorati seized the opportunity to perform more Bartók and his performance of this classic Bartók score is detailed and finely paced.
Dorati didn’t make a complete cycle of Dvořák symphonies—a shame because his recordings of 7, 8 and 9 are top-notch and give Kertesz and Rowicki a run for their money. As such, it is worth giving these performances a hearing and adding it to your Dvořák list. Well worth a listen.
Dorati recorded these performances in the early 1950s in mono but they are fine performances of two very rare works that deserve so much more attention. Naxos historical has released these on CD and they can also be streamed.
This shows off the no-nonsense approach that Dorati applied to all his music-making and it produces here exuberant performances of much-loved classics. Enjoy at your leisure.
I hope this selection of Dorati’s finest recordings gives you as much pleasure as it does me. It’s difficult to name one favourite among so much richness but I think I would name The Firebird as my favourite Dorati performance followed closely by Brahms's Symphony No. 1 and the Tchaikovsky 1st symphony.
As we mark the 35th anniversary of Dorati’s death this year let's raise a glass to one of Hungary's finest musicians. Prost!
