There’s no doubt that the later Dvorak symphonies, Nos. 7, 8, and 9, are his greatest.

But I’ve been listening to Nos. 1, 2, and 3, and finding them excellent too. My classical FM music station apps play Nos. 7, 8, and 9 often, but Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are seldom, if ever, presented. So they’re not only excellent, but also fresh. Highly recommended! I get them via Apple Music.

Working my way up to Nos. 4, 5, and 6!

Dvorak is a very underrated composer. He wrote a large amount of music in many genres, most of which is rarely performed. All that I've ever heard has been delightful and ... civilized.

When you get to 7,8 and 9th symphonies, suggest listening to the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Christoph Von Dohnanyi on London Decca label. These were recorded in the 1980s and were a bit under the radar, atleast to me. He really had a feel for this music and I find myself listening to these recordings over more famous conductors/orchestra renditions.

If you want to hear an exquisite rendition of the "Song to the Moon" from his opera, "Rusalka", check out Lucia Popp's recording on her "Slavonic Opera Arias" disc (a reaaly fine disc overall!).

I can't say I'm a real fan of his operas, having heard "Rusalka" and "The Jakobin". For Czech opera, I prefer Smetana, especially the Z. Kosler/Czech Philharmonic recording of "The Bartered Bride" with Benackova and Dvorsky and also "Dalibor" (in German), conducted by R. Kubelik/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra with Konya and Weathers. I'd also like to thow in a plug for J. Weinberger's "Schwanda, the Bagpiper", in the wonderful recording (in German) by H. Wallberg/Munich Radio Orchestra, with Popp, Prey and Jerusalem (a terrific trio!). The ONLY opera I've ever heard where the use of rather noisy atonal music makes sense; in Hell! (Don't worry; it ends happily and melodically/tonally!)

Thank you, Jim.

5th and 6th are good as well.

Agreed- those are underrated works!

I’ve had the privilege of conducting the 9th, but none of the others.