Dvořák - Symphony No.9, In Nature Realm, Othello Concert Ouverture

The recording of Symphony No.9, In Nature Realm, Othello Concert Ouverture, performing by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Karel Ančerl. Antonín Dvořák´s Symphony No.9, e-minor, op.95, named "From The New World" ("Novosvětská symfonie" in Czech) is certainly the composer´s supreme symphonic work, and it also ranks among the supreme symphonies of all times. Dvořák worked on it from early 1893 to May 24 of the same year, in the first year of his stay in America. The circumstances under which it was composed also determined its character and purpose. The special atmosphere of American folk music is unmistakeable to the symphony, although Dvořák made no direct use of Indian or other songs. Dvořák´s style is sometimes called a "classicist-romantic synthesis".

DS9

Tomášek - Missa Solemnis, Op.81

Václav Jan Tomášek, (1774–1850, Prague) was a Czech composer and music teacher of classicist period. He was an autodidact, becoming one of the most important piano teachers of Prague for a century. Tomášek exclusively wrote for the piano and became a forerunner of the lyric piece of piano, which later found its completion in Franz Schubert. At first he created compositions rather in the classical style, later was influenced by the newly born Romanticism. He wrote lyric pieces for piano, songs, symphonies and masses. This recording of his Missa Solemnis, op.81, was performed by Prague Chamber Orchestra, Kuhn mixed choir and soloists.

TMS

Sir Charles Mackerras conducts Leoš Janáček

Sir Charles Mackerras (1925-2010), Australian conductor, an authority on the operas of Leoš Janáček and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In 1978, he was presented with the Janáček Medal and in 1996, he received the Medal of Merit of Czechia for services to Czech music. This album, recorded with Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, content symphonic poem "Taras Bulba", "Sinfonietta" and ouvertures of operas "The Cunning Little Vixen" and "Káťa Kabanová"

MPJ

Eben: The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart

The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart of Petr Eben. The composer(1929-2007) was fascinated by Comenius's famous book for most of his life, and from 1991 to June 2003 he played celebrated improvisations on the theme in many different countries.

ELS

Voříšek - Symphony in D major, Op.24

Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek (1791-1825), was a Czech composer of classicist era, pianist, and organist, but his compositions move in special way to the early romantism. Although Voříšek died young, he bequethed noteworhy works, predominantly his Symphony in D major, op.24, which is the example of his innovative romantic elements. One of the newest, and simultanously one of the best performances of the opus is this recording by Prague Chamber Philharmony with the conductor Jiří Bělohlávek.

VSD

Kabeláč - 2 Phantasies for organ, Preludes for piano, Suite for saxophone & piano, Sonata for cello & piano

Selection of compositions of Miloslav Kabeláč for organ and piano and chamber music with piano participation : Fantasies for organ in G minor and D minor (J.Hora), Op. 32 (1957–58), 8 preludes for piano (I.Kahánek), Op. 30 (1955–56), Suite for saxophone and piano, Op. 39 (1959) and Sonata for cello and piano.

KFS

Zelenka - Trio Sonatas 1-6

6 trio sonatas for two oboes (or violin and oboe), bassoon and basso continuo by Jan Dismas Zelenka, performed by: Jana Brožková - oboe, Vojtěch Jouza - oboe, Václav Hoskovec - double bass, Jan Jouza - violin, Jaroslav Kubita - bassoon, F.X.Thuri - harpsichord. These sonatas, typical of the period, are fourmovement sonatas known as “da chiesa" and comprise one of the highpoints of Zelenka's contrapunctal art. He broke with the traditional conception of the trio sonata by enhancing the role of the bassoon, giving it an independent melodic voice instead of using it to merely accompany.

ZTS

Smetana - My Country, Bartered Bride

Excerpts from symphonic poem "Má Vlast" (My Country) and instrumental parts from the opera "Prodaná nevěsta" (Bartered Bride) of Bedřich Smetana, performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by James Levine.

SIP

Martinů - Epic of Gilgamesh

Bohuslav Martinů's oratorio The Epic of Gilgamesh (1955) is unusual and, in a way, unique in all the international literature, as exciting and mysterious as the ancient tale on which it is based. The epic, one of the oldest extant examples of written culture, dates back to the beginning of Babylon, and Martinu devoted a number of years to the study of its philosophical basis before beginning to set to music Thompson's translation of its Neoassyrian version. Martinu's conception and execution are truly ingenious making use of early Baroque forms. Outstanding performances by Prague Symphony Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek enhance the unrepeatable atmosphere of this masterful work.

MEG

Eben - Organ Work 2: Sunday Music, Small Choral Partita, Chagall Windows

Petr Eben (1929-2007) was a Czech composer of modern and contemporary classical music, organist and choirmaster. His music has been widely performed and recorded since about 1980, with his popularity still apparently on the rise. The majority of his works are compositions for organ. Stylistically, his musical language can be considered as "neoexpressionistic" in many ways, however in some works we can hear some kind of new forms of impressionistic tendencies. He is usually compared with Olivier Messiaen (what confirmed relatively frequent combination of those two composers in organists recitals and on discs, but in other than organ works remains less experimental. Since 1989, he was honorary president of the Society for spiritual music. This recording is performed by Siegelinde Ahrens.

EO2

Janáček - Sinfonietta, Taras Bulba

"Sinfonietta" and symphonic poem "Taras Bulba" by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Karel Ančerl. Excitement, accuracy, passion, color, and expressive immediacy.  What other performance propels the second-movement ostinatos so forcefully, or builds the third movement's central climax with such explosive energy? Who else observes the various tempo changes in the brief fourth movement so effectively, wringing every drop of variety from its many repetitions of its opening trumpet tune? And who else drives the finale to positively expressionistic extremes of tension, making the return of the opening fanfares a moment of apocalyptic grandeur? I love this work, and enjoy other performances (including Kubelík, Neumann, Jílek, and Mackerras), but this is one of those rare occasions where you really can point your finger to a single version and say, "This is the best."

JST

Dvořák - Te Deum, Mass in D major, Biblical Songs 1-5

"Te Deum" for soprano, bass, chorus & orchestra, B. 176 (Op. 103), Mass for vocal soloists, chorus orchestra in D major, B.175 (Op. 86) and  Biblical Songs (Biblické pésně) for voice & orchestra, B. 189 (Op. 99), no.1-5 of Antonín Dvořák by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus. Conducted by Václav Smetáček.

DTD

Zelenka - Missa Sanctissimae Trinitatis

"Missa Santissimae Trinitis", (The Holiest Trinity Mass) in A-minor, ZWV 17 of Jan Dismas Zelenka was completed in 1736 as the first of five "High Mass" compositions he wrote in the last ten years of his life. The mass is divided into 19 individual parts. The orchestra parts are independent and often dominate over the simple homophonic chorus. The influence of the concerto structure is revealed in the contrast between solo vocal and choral parts. The opposite pole of the chorus concerto are the massive choral fugues - their dialogue here is not only demonstration of technical mastery of the composer, but also of intellectual depth and significance of the work. Performed by Musica Florea, Boni Pueri, conducted by Marek Štryncl. World premiere recording

ZMT

Novák - Slovácká suita

Vítězslav Novák (December 5, 1870 – July 18, 1949) was one of the most well-respected Czech composers and pedagogues, almost singlehandedly founding a Czech 20th century  school of composition. Stylistically, he was a leading figure in the Neo-Romanticism movement, occasionally considered an early example of Czech modernism. Slovácká suita (Slovak suite) pro malý orchestr, op. 32 was composed in 1903.

NSS

Kabeláč - Eight Inventions For Percussion Instruments

Eight Inventions For Percussion Instruments, op.45 (1962), of Miloslav Kabeláč by French ensemble Les Percussions de Strasbourg (1970),

KIP

Dvořák - String Quartets Nos.12 & 13

Antonín Dvořák: String Quartet No. 13 in G major, Op. 106 (B. 192, 1895) and String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, the "American" (B. 179, 1893) by Pavel Haas Quartet (Veronika Jarůšková - 1st violin, Eva Karová - 2nd violin, Pavel Nikl - viola, Peter Jarůšek - cello).

DSQ

Rejcha - Requiem

Antonín Rejcha, also Antoine Reicha (1770, Prague–1836, Paris) was a Czech composer of classical era. A contemporary and lifelong friend of Ludwig van Beethoven, Rejcha is now best remembered for his substantial early contribution to the wind quintet literature and his role as a teacher - his pupils included Franz Liszt and Hector Berlioz. Rejcha was also an accomplished theorist and wrote several treatises on various aspects of composition. Some of his theoretical work dealt with experimental methods of composition, which he applied in a variety of workss. The recording of his Requiem is performed by Czech Philharmonic Chorus, Dvořák Chamber Orchestra and soloists.

RAR

Kabeláč - E fontibus Bohemicis

E fontibus Bohemicis, op.55 of Miloslav Kabeláč from 1965-72 is the sixmovement electro-acoustic composition "E fontibus Bohemicis", with the subtitle Six tableaux from Czech annals, finished in 1972, is the processing of the sound of the biggest bell of Prague "Sigismond", in the course of the work joined in by the oldest Czech chorale, by the organ version of the Hussite song , the fragment of the oldest Czech chronicle (by Cosmas), and by John Hus's words, the apex of the whole composition.

KFB

Martinů - Symphonies Nos.1-4

Bohuslav Martinů - Symphonies Nos.1-4 by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Václav Neumann.  From the complete of all 6 symphonic works, recorded between 1976 and 1978.

M4S

Liška - The Valley Of The Bees

Zdeněk Liška's soundtrack to film of František Vláčil "Údolí včel" (The Valley Of The Bees) from 1967.  Zdeněk Liška’s gift for film music was based on his ability to create tension and drama even on small space. Liška also used a wide range of musical styles, from brass music to electronica.

LVB