Here's yet another mid-priced Slavonic Dances from Universal. Hot on the heels of Kubelik's on Decca Legends, we have this supposedly legendary account from Artur Rodzinski on the revived Westminster label. Rodzinsky made this recording late in life, and these are mellow, congenial performances with tempos that sound quite comfortable. The Royal Philharmonic takes a disarmingly easygoing approach, and here's where the problem lies: there's precious little zing to these readings; the rhythms don't grab you the way they should; and there's nothing that makes you feel like you might actually want to dance. You certainly get that with Szell/Cleveland or Kubelik/Bavarian Radio. These conductors not only make the most of the music's fetching rhythms, but also pay attention to the little things that make the difference between a good and a great performance--such as the slight accent on every third beat in Op. 46 No. 1 (Furiant).

Rodzinski is more attuned to the slower dances, and accordingly gives a wonderfully wistful account of Op. 72's concluding Grazioso. It's not that the British musicians can't let loose, for they certainly did for Dorati in his much later Decca version (now on Australian Eloquence). The solid mono sound is clear and has good bass extension, but these colorful pieces come off best in three-dimensional stereo. Unless collecting the Westminster catalog remains your principal interest, the alternatives constitute far better choices.

--Victor Carr Jr.