“In 1935 Talich brought the Czech P.O to London, where he made legendary Dvořák recordings including this Eighth Symphony - in which I feel I am truly in touch with the composer. Stanislav Novák’s violin solos are exquisite, the pacing of the traditionally shaped performance is flawless and the strings sliding up and down in the Scherzo are irresistible. In 1938, just after the Munich betrayal, conductor and orchestra were back at Abbey Road to record supple accounts of Dvořák’s Sixth and Seventh symphonies and, (here..) their loveliest Talich recording, Suk’s Serenade for Strings. Here everything is dewy-fresh and transparent, the solo playing (Alexander Plocek) is light as gossamer (Suk wrote the passage for solo strings at the end of the Adagio specially for Talich).” [Gramophone Awards 2005]
