Search - Josef Bohuslav Foerster, Lance Friedel, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava) :: Foerster: Symphony No. 4 Easter Eve; Festive Overture; Meine Jugend

Great Czech music at a bargain price

Russian Music Fan | Twickenham, United Kingdom | 04/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have never heard Foerster's masterly Fourth Symphony - a remarkable fusion of Brucknerian and Dvorakian ideas - then this budget CD is a superb introduction. More than that, this is one of the definitive recordings of the work. Conductor Lance Friedel obviously loves this music (he also writes the liner notes). Unmissable."

New recording of a Czech specialty

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 09/20/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Josef Bohuslav Foerster (1859-1951) fits in the history of Czech symphonic musicmaking somewhere after Dvorak and Smetana and before his compatriot Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959) who eclipsed Foerster as the greatest Czech composer of their generation. Foerster was married to a soprano that was member of Mahler opera Company and, like many of his predecessors, left his homeland for life in Vienna and elsewhere.



The 4th Symphony, subtitled "Easter Eve" espousing the composer's religious beliefs on the death and resurrection of Christ, is considered Foerster's masterpeice. It is a dramatic symphony that reminds me of Suk without the complete mastery of the other composer or his range of emotions.



The symphony was premiered in Prague in November 1905. It is comprised of four movements:

1. Molto sostenuto, a dramatic presentation of Easter eve

2. Allegro decisio, a scherzo also called "A Child's Good Friday"

3. Andante sostenuto, a meditation called "The Charm of Solitude"

4. Lento lugubre - Allegro moderato, "The Victory of Good Friday"



The current recording is acceptable but hardly outstanding. It never pushes the music to the edge and the recording is not the best I've ever heard from Naxos. It is, however, an adequate introduction to music that is probably not well-known, or not known at all, the the average collector.



By my reckoning the greatest performance of this music comes in a 1948 Supraphon recording from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Rafael Kubelik. While the sound is dated, with a restricted sound stage and fidelity, the musicmaking does far more than here to develop the religiousity, suavity and emotional appeal of the score, which is one of many that tries to portray the religious suffering and miracle of Easter.



The notes to the Kubelik issue -- last seen on CD as Supraphon SU 1912-2 001, still available in Europe -- devote more space to Czech music than this one. The sound is mono but OK. It is a studio, not concert, performance. Kubelik is widely accepted as an authoritative figure in Czech music. His recordings of the symphonies of Antonin Dvorak are still considered de rigeur in most quarters.



The Kubelik recording is not currently available in USA but may be available elsewhere. If you like the symphony and want to hear what it could become under an expert in Czech music, it may be worth your time and investment to seek it out. Otherwise, the Naxos issue provides an introduction to the symphony and a makeweight in modern DDD sound for not very much money."

Another Fine Rarity Issued By Naxos

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 04/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The liner notes of this compilation refer to Josef Bohuslav Foerster as one of the twentieth century's best known Czech composers. Though comparisons can be made to his compositions and Mahler, a contemporary and friend, it's also easy to see the influence of compatriots Dvorak and Suk. The major work of this collection is Foerster's Fourth Symphony titled "Easter Eve." It's a beautifully luxurious work that could easily find a home in the symphonic repertoire of any major symphony orchestra. Lance Friedel seems comfortable with the music and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra has a lush sound that serves the work well. This set also has piremiere recordings of the composer's "Festive Overture" and the tone Poem "Meine Jugend," a n work owing much to Dvorak and Suk.



Once again Naxos deserves to be commended. The pieces on this CD would all but be ignored by other labels since Foerster is not exactly a household name and the works are largely unfamiliar, yet Naxos has issued a fine recording and as usual, the price, as always is unbeatable.

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