Search - Bedrich Smetana, James Levine, Rafael Kubelik :: Smetana: Má vlast; Symphonic Poems

A collector item!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 12/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The most admirable virtue of this double album mainly resides in the ferrous and virile version of "My country."



Kubelik conferred this version not only the Czech nostalgia (as he achieved it with his previous with the Chicago Symphony in the Fifties), but hovered it with major specific weight, dark tonalities, wider tonal space and persuasive poetic eloquence.



It's convenient to recall the Boston Symphony in those ages, still owned that splendid sonority and aristocratic refinement given by Michael Tilson Thomas (As a matter of fact, Debussy's Prelude to a faun, Tchaikovsky's First symphony and Stravinsky's Consecration still appear to me as my desert island choices)



On the other hand, Smetana's Symphonic poems were performed by Kubelik with admirable conviction, carving in relief the status of the Bavarian Orchestra as one of the most distinguished German Orchestras in those ages.



Levine's performance of "The bride" is passable but nothing overwhelming .



"

Kubelik's Smetana

J. Rich | 04/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kubelik really shines in performance with three composers: Dvorak, Mahler, and Smetana. It seems the affinity he shares for each of these composers runs deep within him. The way he handles Smetana with the Boston Symphony and the Bavarian Radio Symphony on these recordings is timeless and gives a special Czech feeling to these works. The other conductor in this set is James Levine who is a also a fine conductor and performs great with the Vienna Philharmonic, but it is Kubelik who steals the show here no question about it.



"Ma Vlast," which takes up the first disc has been digitally remastered using Deutsche Grammophon's "Original-Image-Bit-Processing," which according to DG adds presence, brilliance and greater spatial definition to the recording. I have read many bad reviews concerning this first disc's audio and I see no one but myself and another are aware of this release, because we are the only ones who have reviewed it so far. I'm sure, without question, that this 2008 release blows the original "remastered" release of "Ma Vlast" away. This is something to definitely consider when buying this. For those who have the original and don't want two copies, then sell the original and buy this one. You will be glad you did.



This set also contains some other Smetana orchestral works like "Richard III," "The Bartered Bride," etc., which are performed great.



If you're looking for a one-stop buy for Smetana, this is it. Not only are you getting his best works with the best conductor of this repertoire, but you're getting two discs for the price of one plus a newly remastered set that blows all other releases away."

Czech masterpieces - splendidly performed and recorded - che

R. Lane | Tracy, CA USA | 08/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Almost 6 years ago I reviewed the DG Galleria issue containing the same recording of Ma Vlast that takes up the lion's share of this bargain 2 CD issue (see Smetana: Má vlast). I actually owned this issue then also, but it was not available from Amazon.com so I could not offer a link to it or review it. I keep both issues in my collection to use as demonstration to doubters that digital remastering truly CAN work well when handled properly. DGs Original-Image Bit-Processing was used on this issue, but not on the Galleria issue I reviewed in 2004. Whether the use of that process is the reason, or just plain greater care by the engineers is the reason, this issue of the Boston Symphony Kubelik Ma Vlast sounds immensely better in this later remastering. There is a liveliness and dimension to the sound that is totally muffled in teh Galleria issue.



When I found this 2 CD set with the Ma Vlast AND the 4 other Smetana symphonic poems at an HMV store in Philadelphia, my heart leaped for joy. I had owned the original LP issue of those recordings from the day they were issued, and had yearned for good CD incantations for years. I was already watering at the mouth with anticipation that the remastering of Ma Vlast would come closer to or exceed the original LP sound of that piece (see the Galleria review); to get the other pieces too was doubly pleasing. Add Levine's lively orchestral selections from the opera The Bartered Bride and you've got over two hours of some of the finest Czech symphonic repertoire in unpoarrallelled sound at a bargain price.



This issue belongs in the library of every collector of Czech music, and it makes a fine item to give some variety to the last enthusiatic listener who just wants a taste of Bohemia."