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Fortunately, Joe is one of the great tuba players of the recently retired generation with a significant legacy of high quality recordings. I would hot hesitate to purchase any of the Bernstein NYP recordings with tuba pieces that you like.

I think Prok 5 and the several versions of American in Paris are some of my favorites. Also, although there is a lot of content without tuba, the Young Person's Guide series is recently out on DVD and has nice clips of Joe playing.

Bernstein's Mahler recordings with the NYP showcase Mr. Novotny's playing extremely well.

Who played on the Bruno Walter / NY Phil recording of Mahler 2? Was it Novotny or Bell? Great recording!

I agree that Mr. Novotny was a distinguished performer on tuba in one of the great orchestras of the world. I was fortunate to have heard him in concert with the NY Phil on several occasions. Also, he was a real gentleman and took the time to talk with me when I was a very young aspiring orchestral tubist.

I must say, however, that I have never heard nor known of anyone saying anything derogatory about Joe Novotny.

Mike Sanders
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Mikelynch wrote:Fortunately, Joe is one of the great tuba players of the recently retired generation with a significant legacy of high quality recordings. I would hot hesitate to purchase any of the Bernstein NYP recordings with tuba pieces that you like.

I have a recording, both on LP and CD, of the NYP with Bernstein conducting the Shostakovich 5th. It came in the late 70's as an audiophile pressing, in a jacket that was mostly solid red. Maybe it's the CBS Masterworks recording (I DO wish Tower Records would be record dates on their online listings).

If anyone else is familiar with this recording, was Novotny the performer in the orchestra at that time?

Rick "for whom this recording was highly influential" Denney