With the Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4, Jirí Belohlávek and his Czech Philharmonic started the ambitious project of recording the complete Martinu symphonies cycle at the visually and acoustically spectacular Rudolfinum Prague. After the death of his mentor Jirí Belohlávek, who was considered one of the world’s most renowned Martinu experts, rising star conductor Jakub Hruša is going to complete the cycle with performances of Martinu’s Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 6 between March 2018 and January 2019. Hruša has recently been hailed by the New York Times for his “passionate, thrilling” way of presenting his ‘all-Czech’ concert at the BBC Proms.
Martinu Symphony Cycle: Martinu 2
Jirí Belohlávek and his Czech Philharmonic embarked on the ambitious project of recording the complete Martinu symphonies at the visually and acoustically spectacular Rudolfinum Prague, starting with Nos. 1 and 4. After the death of Belohlávek, his pupil Jakub Hruša took over the project, continuing the cycle with Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 6. Praised for his “passionate, thrilling” way of conducting his ‘all-Czech’ BBC Proms concert by the NYT, Hruša is uniquely qualified to face the task of performing the works of Martinu, who is deemed the greatest Czech composer of his generation.
Martinu Symphony Cycle: Martinu No. 5
Jirí Belohlávek and his Czech Philharmonic embarked on the ambitious project of recording the complete Martinu symphonies at the visually and acoustically spectacular Rudolfinum Prague, starting with Nos. 1 and 4. After the death of Belohlávek, his pupil Jakub Hruša took over the project, completing the cycle with Symphony No 5. Praised for his “passionate, thrilling” way of conducting his ‘all-Czech’ BBC Proms concert by the NYT, Hruša is uniquely qualified to face the task of performing the works of Martinu, who is deemed the greatest Czech composer of his generation.
Thomas Guggeis conducts Smetana
The Prague Spring Festival opens annually with Bedrich Smet ana’s cycle Má vlast (My Fatherland), always on 12 May, the anniversary of the composer’s death. It is one of the national monuments of Czech music: a musical foray through the world of the Czech mythical character Šárka, through the history and landscape of the Bohemian Basin in the heart of Europe and the old Prague castle of Vyšehrad. The most famous movement, “Vltava” describes the river Moldau and its course through the country. It is therefore a special honour to be invited to play the opening concert. Only the best orchestras are asked, but for probably no other orchestra the theme of Má vlast has such significance as for the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. At the rostrum is Thomas Guggeis, a former assistant of Daniel Barenboim, who has – as many scholars of the great maestro before – made his own career and has been appointed general music director of the Frankfurt Opera.
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
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.
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.