Search - Bedrich Smetana, Rafael Kubelik, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra :: Smetana: My Country

Memorable performance on a memorable occassion

I. Martinez-Ybor | Miami, FL USA | 04/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Czechoslovakia shed communism it invited its most venerable musician, conductor Rafael Kubelik, to conduct the Czech Philharmonic in this most Czech of all compositions (which includes the popular tone poem we refer to as The Moldau). Kubelik, himself the son of the world famous Czech violinist Jan Kubelik, had been exiled during communism and was already in retirement. Nonetheless, Kubelik came. The result was the live performance recorded here, I believe in the presence of President Havel, an emotional watershed in the life of the country and arguably the best modern performance of the work. Kubelik had recorded it at least twice before: with the Chicago Symphony (mono) and with the Boston Symphony (stereo). Fine recordings though both of these are, they cannot match the national inflection, passion and execution of this beautiful work at this miraculous performance. Kubelik has since died. Even if you are not familiar with the work, it is well worth the buying the CD on faith. You will love it."