4 great symphonies that have all played a special role in the close collaboration between Danish National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Thomas Dausgaard. The symphonies are recorded in the beautiful concert hall Koncerthuset in Copenhagen, designed by architect Jean Nouvel and acoustician Toyota Yasuhisa. Bonus material In a series of exclusive interviews Thomas Dausgaard explains about his close collaboration with the orchestra, the concerts and about the four great yet altogether very different master pieces by Brahms, Dvorák, Sibelius and Nielsen.
Andris Nelsons, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Yefim Bronfman at Lucerne Festival
The Latvian maestro Andris Nelsons is already one of the most sought-after young conductors in the world and once again served notice of his extraordinary talent when he conducted two concerts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam at the prestigious Lucerne Festival. In the present recording of the second of these concerts (which are both available on DVD and Blu-ray from C Major Entertainment), Beethoven’s majestic Fifth Piano Concerto proves a memorable encounter between Nelsons and master pianist Yefim Bronfman, who remains calm and composed despite the piano part‘s virtuoso passage-work and knuckle-breaking chords. “A return to the magician of the podium: a conductor bursting with temperament and capable of conjuring up the most magnificent orchestral sonorities” (Neue Luzerner Zeitung).
Vaclav Neumann conducts Mahler & Dvorak
There’s always something inspiring about a veteran conductor working with young musicians – a special energy that flows between youth and experience, to the enrichment of all. In 1990, as tyrannies crumbled across Central Europe the great Czech maestro Vacláv Neumann joined forces with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and the distinguished British baritone Thomas Allen for a programme of Mahler (his Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen) and Dvorák (his final symphony). The result – captured live at the Alte Oper Frankfurt – has a quite extraordinary sense of occasion, as Neumann imparts a lifetime’s emotion and experience to his audibly inspired young players.
Prague Sounds – Concert for Europe with Semyon Bychkov & the Czech Philharmonic
For this special concert, the Vltava river in Prague turned into a unique concert venue. Floating stages were built especially for this concert. To celebrate Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Czech Philharmonic perform some of the most iconic pieces of Czech classical music. The concert opens with the anthem of the European Union, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, and is completed by Smetana’s Vltava (The Moldau), Dvorák’s Carnival Overture and – as the main piece of the evening – Janácek’s monumental Glagolitic Mass, one of the most powerful sacred compositions ever. It is the perfect piece to celebrate Europe: “the ancient classical meets the spontaneously avant-garde in a special and optimal way.” (Lidové noviny) PROGRAM: Beethoven: ”Ode to Joy” Finale of Symphony No. 9, Op. 125; Dvorák: Carnival overture op. 92; Smetana: Vltava, a symphonic poem from the cycle ‘My Country.’ Janácek: Glagolitic Mass
Dvorak – Symphony No. 6 in D
From the stunning Rudolfinum in Prague: the Czech Philharmonic conducted by its chief conductor Jirí Belohlávek performing Dvorák´s symphonies: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60 (46´- A985500040006) . Complete cycle of all 9 symphonies also available, see A985500040001-9.
Dvorák – Symphony No 1 in c minor “Bells of Zlonice”
From the stunning Rudolfinum in Prague: the Czech Philharmonic conducted by ist chief conductor Jirí Belohlávek performing Dvorák´s symphonies: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, OP. 3 “The Bells of Zlonice” (48´- A985500040001). Complete cycle of all 9 symphonies also available, see A985500040001-9.
Dvorak – Symphony No 2 in B flat op. 4
From the stunning Rudolfinum in Prague: the Czech Philharmonic conducted by it´s chief conductor Jirí Belohlávek performing Dvorák´symphonies: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op.4 (55´ – A985500040002). Complete cycle of all 9 symphonies also available, see A985500040001-9.
Dvorak – Symphony No 3 in E flat
From the stunning Rudolfinum in Prague: the Czech Philharmonic conducted by its chief conductor Jirí Belohlávek performing Dvorák´s symphonies: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 10 (38´- A985500040003) . Complete cycle of all 9 symphonies also available, see A985500040001-9.
Dvorak – Symphony No 4 in D minor
From the stunning Rudolfinum in Prague: the Czech Philharmonic conducted by its chief conductor Jirí Belohlávek performing Dvorák´s symphonies: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 14 (44´- A985500040004). Complete cycle of all 9 symphonies also available, see A985500040001-9.
Dvorak – Symphony No 5 in F
From the stunning Rudolfinum in Prague: the Czech Philharmonic conducted by its chief conductor Jirí Belohlávek performing Dvorák´s symphonies: Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76 (46´- A985500040005) . Complete cycle of all 9 symphonies also available, see A985500040001-9.