Great Czech Conductors

The names of Václav Talich, Karel Ančerl and Rafael Kubelík are synonymous not only with the superlative quality of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra but also the best traditions of Czech music in general. Over the past few years, the discographies of the first two conductors have been featured within Supraphon’s representative edition series (Ančerl Gold Edition, Talich Special Edition). The new series, GREAT CZECH CONDUCTORS, aims to pay back the debt owing to a number of other distinguished conductors who have left distinct footprints in Czech and international musical life, as well as the Supraphon and Czech Radio archives. The series is launched with Rafael Kubelík, an icon of the Czech musical tradition and a symbol of struggle for personal and artistic freedom. Owing to his uncompromising attitude to the communist regime, Kubelík’s tenure in the post of chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic was very short, yet it was during this brief era (1941-48) that numerous forcible recordings were made – and some of them (including Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9) are now appearing on an audio disc for the very first time. The other leading conductors presented within this series were primarily connected with the Czech Philharmonic, the Prague and Radio Symphony Orchestras too: some of them throughout their career (Karel Šejna), others for a short time on their path towards an illustrious international career (Martin Turnovský). The next part of the series will reveal to the world largely historical recordings too (with the centre of gravity being in the 1950s and 1960s), accentuating recordings previously unreleased. Each of the conductors (to name but a few: Václav Neumann, Václav Smetáček, Zdeněk Košler) will be presented within his “own” repertoire and, sometimes within the interesting context of Czech and foreign soloists, as in the case of Kubelík’s recording of Dvořák’s Piano Concerto with the superlative Rudolf Firkušný. With this series, Supraphon aims to pay tribute to the artists whose work co-created the glowing reputation that Czech classical music enjoys throughout the world. All those loving the music from the homeland of Dvořák, Smetana and Janáček can look forward to other treasures, other pieces in the mosaic of 20th-century Czech musical life.

In 2012 the first part of the series will be released:

RAFAEL KUBELÍK (SU 4080-2)

CD1: Dvořák – Symphony No. 8, Piano Concerto

CD2: Martinů – Symphony No. 4, Memorial to Lidice;

Shostakovich – Symphony No. 9; Dobiáš – Stalingrad

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Rudolf Firkušný – piano (Dvořák)

KAREL ŠEJNA (SU 4081-2)

CD1: Mozart – Le nozze di Figaro – Overture, Symphony No. 38, “Prague”, La clemenza di Tito – Overture; Beethoven – Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”

CD2: Schubert – Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished”; Mahler – Symphony No. 4

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Marie Tauberová – soprano (Mahler)

MARTIN TURNOVSKÝ (SU 4082-2)

CD1: Martinů – Symphony No. 4, Concertino for cello and piano, wind instruments and percussion, Tre ricercari; Ibert – Concerto for cello and wind instruments; Hindemith – Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra

CD2: Bizet – Jeux d‘enfants. Petite Suite for orchestra, Op. 22; Saint-Saëns – Le carnaval des animaux; Ernest Chausson – Poème de l’amour et de la mer; Ravel – Shéhérazade. Trois Poemes pour Chant et Orchestre

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Chamber Harmony, Prague Symphony Orchestra,

Prague Chamber Orchestra

André Navarra – cello (Martinů, Ibert), Ladislav Černý – viola (Hindemith), Ilja Hurník, Pavel

Štěpán – piano (Saint-Saëns), Nedda Casei – mezzo-soprano (Chausson, Ravel)