Anyone heard the transcriptions for piano of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances? I have a recording of them for orchestra(which I am absolutely in love with) and I was delighted to find out that they were transcribed to piano! Is anyone else hooked on these magnificent pieces? and also does anyone know of a pianist who recorded the transcriptions on label and what might be a good recording to check out?
Thanks!

On the vox label is Alfred Brendel and Walter Klein. It's a 2 disc set that also includes some Brahms. It's very nice (though dated). Balsam/Raps on Arabesque is good. There is a two volume set on Naxos, but I've not heard it so I can't saying anything more about it.

Meltone1

On the PRICE-LES$ label (yes, PRICE-LES$)D14163 the duo pianists Frances Veri and Michael Jamanis perform the 8 dances of Op 46 as well as the 8 dances of Op 72 in what is billed as "original version for piano, 4 hands."

Groves lists the composition of these Slavonic Dances as follows:
Op. 46, piano version: 18 March - 17 May 1878; orchestral version: April 22 - August 1878.
Op 72: piano version: before 8 June - 9 July, 1886. orchestral version : Nov. 1876 - 5 January 1877. This would seem to bear out that the piano version, 4 hands is the "original", although as you see, the versions overlap.

A recent Schwann catalog shows 25 versions of the complete (Opp 46 and 72) Slavonic Dances, 19 of which are the orchestral version and only 6 of which are the two-piano version. Of those, none of them is by what we would consider well-known contemporary artists.

The PRICE-LES$ CD was recorded at Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York, February 23-17, 1987. The recording is copyright 1987. I don't know whether it is still available.

Regards,

[ August 31, 2001: Message edited by: BruceD ]

On NAXOS:

Four-Hand Piano Music Vol.2
Slavonic Dances, Opp.46 & 72
Silke-Thora Matthies & Christian Kohn
Catalogue: 8.553138