Jirí Belohlávek – C Major Entertainment

Martinu Symphony Cycle: Martinu 1 & Mahler 1

From the time-honoured and acoustically superb Prague Rudolfinum, this concert of the Czech Philharmonic under its music director Jirí Belohlávek marks the beginning of the first-ever filmed, complete cycle of all six symphonies by Bohuslav Martinu. Belohlávek and the Czech Philharmonic have a reputation to interpret his works like no other. ClassicsToday declared their Martinu cycle to “live up to the highest expectations […] With an orchestra that knows the music this well, Belohlávek can focus on details of rhythm and texture that create a powerful feeling of symphonic continuity without stinting on the work’s evocative colors.” Following Martinu’s First Symphony is Mahler’s First Symphony. With an equally deep Mahler tradition, the orchestra gave proof of why the New York Times called them “a jewel in Prague’s cultural life”.

Martinu Symphony Cycle: Martinu 4, Strauss Horn Concerto No 2

At the acoustically superb concert venue of the Rudolfinum Prague, the Czech Philharmonic performs Bohuslav Martinu’s Symphony No. 4 as part of the first-ever filmed complete cycle of all six symphonies by the Czech composer. It is at the same time one of the last recordings with the Czech Philharmonic’s long-term musical director Jirí Belohlávek, who died in May 2017. Martinu’s Fourth Symphony – “the ultimate perfection” (Harmonie Magazine) – is complemented by Janácek’s late work Sinfonietta and Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 2, performed by renowned French horn soloist Radek Baborák. Following the footsteps of his mentor Belohlávek, Jakub Hruša will continue the Martinu cycle in 2018.

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 – The Complete Symphonies

Antonín Dvorák (1841–1904) stands alongside Smetana as a founder of the new Czech music. His nine symphonies, presented here for the first time as a filmed cycle, show Dvorák to be a thoroughly individual and original composer whose symphonic concepts and wealth of musical expression are often surprising, representing a distinctly different engagement with the formal legacy of the nineteenth century from one symphony to the next. The Czech Philharmonic regards Dvorák’s symphonic output as an essential part of its repertoire. All the symphonies in this cycle were performed in the Dvorák Hall of the Rudolfinum in Prague, one of Europe’s oldest and loveliest concert halls and also where

Dvorák conducted the first concert by today’s Czech Philharmonic in 1896. Jirí Belohlávek, Chief Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, is considered an established authority on the Slavic music of his homeland.

Nine Sketches of Dvorák

Documentary to the complete Dvorak Symphonies Cycle recorded in the Rudolfinum, Prague, by Czech Philharmonic under the baton of chief conductor Jirí Belohlávek: Alongside the performances in concert, the symphonic cyle is presented in a special interpretative version in which conductor Jirí Belohlávek explains how each symphony came to be written and highlights the key musical features of the individual movements. Jirí Belohlávek visits important places in the composer’s life, interviews experts and key figures and investigates how his symphonies came to be so successful.

Má vlast

Is there any more evocative piece of national music than “Ma Vlast” or “My Country”? Smetana’s six orchestral poems – the most famous of which is “Vltava” with its instantly recognizable melody and evocation of this great river – tell of Bohemia’s lands and legends. It is performed here by the orchestra so strongly associated with Czech identity and an institution that continues to represent Czech culture on the international stage.

Te Deum Op.103

The music of the quintessentially Czech composer Dvorák is, above all, enjoyable and is a perennial favourite in the Romantic repertoire. This series of concerts is performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the Prague Philharmonic Choir, with three leading Czech conductors on the podium: Petr Altrichter, Jirí Belohlávek and Libor Pesek. Guest soloists include soprano Lucia Popp, alto Eva Randová, tenor Josef Protschka, bass Peter Mikulás, pianist Igor Ardasev, violinist Ivan Zenaty and cellist Mischa Maisky. VOLUME VI includes the world’s famous Requiem.