Dvorak; Symphony No.9 - from the New World (CD)

Gramophone Magazine
August 2026
Recording of the Month

Presto Recording of the Week
3rd July 2026

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World"
Simon, Carlos: Four Black American Dances

Reference Recordings presents a live recording of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" alongside the world-premiere commercial release of Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances. Captured live in Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Manfred Honeck, the album pairs one of the most beloved symphonic masterworks with a vibrant contemporary celebration of African American dance traditions.

Honeck brings his signature meticulous score study, dynamic energy, and structural clarity to Dvořák's iconic "New World" Symphony, uncovering fresh details and expressive nuances throughout. Carlos Simon's Four Black American Dances—comprising "Ring Shout," "Waltz," "Tap!," and "Holy Dance"—serves as a compelling and rhythmically inventive companion piece, celebrating heritage, spirit, and orchestral color.

"Honeck has that rare ability to make even the most well-worn works sound engagingly fresh... Simon's riotously colourful Four Black American Dances (2023) makes an apt coupling." — Gramophone Magazine, August 2026