Miguel Muelle wrote:

>I have a couple of versions of this cycle, and by far the most powerful
>is the Czech Phil with Kubelik upon his return to Prague in 1989 (SUPRAPHON
>SU 11 1208-2 031).  He plays with the rhythms like no-one else has, and the
>orchestra pronounces the music like poetry under his direction.  Evern more
>special is the fact that I got my copy in Prague -- a city with which I
>fell in love form the first moment.

Actually, I believe this was recorded at the Prague Spring festival of
1990, the first after the Fall of the Wall....but no matter.  The poetry
and glow of this, Kubelik's last recorded version so far as I'm aware, is
quite real.  I would also recommend the fiery FIRST recording (after his
flight from the Iron Curtain) that he made of this cycle, with the Chicago
Symphony in the early 1950s.  It should still be available on Mercury (in
glorious mono, of course).

Bill H.