The story is well known about Simrock, Dvorak's publisher, realizing quickly that the first set of Slavonic Dances were such a gold mine that he immediately pressed the composer for a second set. What is less realized is that Dvorak wasn't going to be pushed into any such thing and didn't write the second set until after an interval of eight years, during which time he composed much else and was therefore a vastly more experienced composer. The Op. 72 set are loosely thought of as a continuation of Op. 45; but they are on the whole less obvious 'dances' and far more thoughtful and expressive.
The second dance of Op. 72 shows a marked change in the mood of the second set yet it finds its place as a bridge into that set. A number of others follow this extra thoughtfulness, culminating in the last which can only be thought of as an envoi to everything that has gone before. Both Masur and Jarvi (Chandos) certainly realize this and make a subtle difference between the two sets.
The Slavonic Rhapsodies are seldom heard in the concert hall. Beecham was fond of No. 3, which is charming with its harp at the start and its delightful rhythms; No. 2 was unknown to me and I do not find it particularly enticing. They are extended works and suffer a little from Dvorak's tendency to let his longer pieces sprawl. Dvorakians will want them, however, but the choice is bedevilled by the recordings. Masur and the Gewandhaus orchestra haven't quite the clarity and definition of focus that one has come to expect from this medium and I find Jarvi's recording with the SNO slightly better, and the sound more like what I expect to hear from an orchestra in the concert hall. His recording simply has the Slavonic Dances complete on one disc and is very good value. Masur takes two discs but adds the three Rhapsodies, a considerable addition.
On the whole, if I only wanted the Dances I should opt for Jarvi and the SNO; but if I wanted the three Rhapsodies I should not let the slightly less good sound of the Masur put me off, for it is insignificant.'