Czech Philharmonic Orchestra – Alto CD

Vaclav Talich conducts Dvořák & Suk Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (in 1935, 1938)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:35 +0000

“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]

Suk: Serenade for String Orchestra, Op.6 [28:00]

1 I. Andante con moto 6.09

2 II. Allegro ma non troppo e grazioso 5.41

3 III. Adagio – Piu andante 9.12

4 IV. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo presto 6.57

Recorded December 1938 in London

Matrix nos.: 2EA 7156-59 & 2EA 7170-73

Dvořák: Symphony No.8 in G, Op.88 [35:56]

5 I. Allegro con brio 9.50

6 II. Adagio 10.17

7 III. Allegretto grazioso 6.45

8 IV. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo 9.03

Recorded December 1935 in London

Matrix nos.: 2EA 2808-17

Original transfers: Mark Obert-Thorn

Re-mastered 2023 by Gene Gaudette (Urlicht Audio-Visual)

& Paul Arden-Taylor (www.dinmore-records.co.uk)

Janáček Sinfonietta * 4 Opera Preludes * Taras Bulba

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“Charles Mackerras has shown himself one of the finest Janáček conductors. His readings convey a sense of burning belief in and love of Janáček’s music; they are well prepared; yet it is as if the strangeness and beauty of the music were being revealed for the first time. The engineers have excelled themselves, matching this bold approach with an equally bold recording … In the four Preludes the performances are excellently dramatic, and most moving.” (Gramophone)

Sinfonietta, 4 Opera Preludes:
Sinfonietta (1926) [24:41]

1. Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso 2:20
2. Andante – Alegretto – Maestoso 6:12
3. Moderato – Con Moto – Tempo Primo – Prestissimo – Moderato 5:47
4. Allegretto 3:01
5. Andante con moto – Maestoso – Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso – Adagio 7:18

Operatic Preludes [21:12]

6. The Makropulos Affair 5:10
7. Katya Kabanova 4:44
8. The House of the Dead 5:34
9. Jenufa (prelude: ‘Jealousy’) 5:42

Taras Bulba: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Karel Ančerl
Taras Bulba (1915-8) ‘Rhapsody for Orchestra’ [21:49]

10. Andrei’s Death 8:30
11. Ostap’s Death 4:59
12. Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba 8:19

Smetana: Má Vlast (complete symphonic cycle)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:38:05 +0000

“Recorded triumphantly at the 50th Prague Spring Festival. Of Pešek’s previous recording, Penguin Guide wrote “captures the epic patriotic feeling… richly romantic…gripping melodrama…vivid characterisation” “this, with the distinctive colours of the national orchestra – particularly those earthy Czech woodwinds – is definitely closer to home. Here, then, the song of the bard Lumir in the great hall of Vysehrad. And it’s those harps again…….” (Edward Seckerson BBC Radio 3)

1. Vyšehrad 14:36
2. Vltava (‘Vltava, the river’) 11:47
3. šárka 9:47
4. Z českých luhů a hájů 12:16
(‘From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields’)
5. Tábor 12:04
6. Blaník 13:35