Reading Schwartzo's recent piece about George Szell helped me understand better a recent experience I had with his music. For Christmas I received the Sony Masterworks Heritage Disc (63151) of Dvorak's Symphonies 7, 8 and 9. (It also includes the Carnival Overture and Smetana'a Overture to the Bartered Bride and Quartet in e minor.) For some reason I asked for it despite the fact that I already had a Naxos recording of the 8th (550269) and von Karajan's DG recording of the 9th (2894232062). Now, my collecting obsession is recent enough that duplications works are rare--although getting far more common to the dismay of my wife who can't understand why anyone would need to have two discs of the "same" music. Well, that's another thread. Anyway, my experience with this disc should prove the point to her (though it won't!), and I intend to do an A/B screening for her some time. I had listened to the 8th several times trying without success to understand why writers were so enthusiastic about it. My first listening to the Szell changed that in a hurry! As to the 9th.: Certainly it is a favorite. But Karajan's reading always seemed heavy and, dare I say "bombastic." Of course with nothing to compare it to except radio broadcasts, I didn't know what I was missing. I think both symphonies, but especially parts of the ninth, illustrated what Steve was talking about in citing Szell's use of the orchestra as chamber ensembles. When the "Going Home" theme was playing my wife even got up from her reading to walk over and check out the CD cover--which is virtually unprecedented for her! The background information in Steve's review was very helpful. Now I'm eager to know: what are other great Szell recordings? And are there dissenters on the list? Ed (eager to feed his collecting obsession in the new year.)