Dvořák: Moravian Duets

Reviews

“These early duets established Dvorak as a composer for ‚domestic‘ use. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Irmgard Seefried made a recording of Op 32 with Gerald Moore, sung in German, of course, but here Saturova and Cukrova — with the help of Nekoranec in three of the Op 20 set — bring native linguistic flair and ‚Slavonic‘ sound to these delightful miniatures, revealing Dvorak’s bounteous melodic gift in his early thirties. Delectable.”
The Sunday Times, 8th May 2018

“They are all here, the 23 songs with idiomatic checks from the singers Simona Šaturová and Markéta Cukrová and given their domestic salon origins it’s lovely to hear Dvořák’s own piano played by Vojtěch Spurný a Viennese Bosendorfer from 1879 adding its own distinctive timbre to the sound. Recording’s nicely balanced in the Dvořák museum in Prague – the notes are excellent with full text and translations and if you want the complete Moravian Duets don’t hesitate. Supraphon is the label as you might have guessed.”
BBC Radio 3, 5th May 2018

“…the natural phrasing of the two native Czech singers and the witty, rhythmically vivid pianism of Vojtěch Spurný ensures that this performance enshrines a captivating sense of freshness, conversational agility and sentiment… The performers bring a spirit of youthful generosity to bear and judicious sampling will provide plenty of Moravian-based nourishment.”
MusicWeb International, July 2018

“Trois des quatres recueils de Duos moraves sur le proper Bösendorfer de Dvořák. Un piano de salon que Vojtěch Spurný touche assez subtilement pour offrir l'accompagnement idéal aux voix proportionnées de Simona Šaturová et Markéta Cukrová, plus gâtées que lui par les micros. Si ces dammes mettent beaucoup d'esprit et de lyrisme dans des tête-à-tête où chaque mot se savour, on se régale aussi de dialogue entre la mature soprano et le vert Petr Nekoranec dans l'Opus 20. Lumineux.”
Diapason, July 2018

“Simona Šaturová’s silvery soprano and Markéta Cukrová’s warm mezzo blend nicely in the Op 32 and Op 38 sets, where the parallel harmonies are pitch perfect and carefully shaded dynamics convey shifting emotions… Petr Nekoranec, very gallant and elegant, is their tenor… Spurný, meanwhile, proves an excellent accompanist, always supportive of the singers, knowing exactly when to hold back and when to assert himself… It’s an excellent disc, warmly recommended.”
Gramophone, September 2018