Search - Vitezslav Novak, Bedrich Smetana, Rafael Kubelik :: Smetana: Richard III; Wallenstein's Camp; Hakon Jarl; Novák: South Bohemian Suite

A very fine set of vintage recordings.

David A. Hollingsworth | Washington, DC USA | 09/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's good and even gratifying to have this fine disc in our midst, and heartwarming praise shall be given to Supraphon for its initiative. With it, we get more of a taste of Kubelik's emerging talents and instinctiveness as among the last Century's greatest conductors. His penchant for raw energy, exuberance, and the underlying warmth and poetry remained with him for the rest of his illustrious and influential career (as his later recordings of Smetana's tone poems with the Bavarian Radio Symphony will testify). What's more is the further opportunity to hear how the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra became a world class orchestra, then and now. It's the orchestra that's well blended, polished, and with flair. And yet it has that flair and style that made it even during Talich's tenure, as distinctive as, say, the Moscow Philharmonic under Samuel Samosud and Kondrashin. An invaluable disc in essence and a joy upon every listening, especially with the remasterings being as successful as they are here. Smetana's three of his symphonic poems, which were composed during his stay in Sweden (between 1856 & 1861), are of fine qualities, if not, with the exception of Richard III, as finer as Ma Vlast. And Richard III is the piece I'm drawn myself to more often than not. Not only is it more memorable, but it's quite captivating (like Lizst's symphonic poems but a successful derivative of it). The sombre opening is arresting in its restraints. But turn to the dreamingly-like secondary subject and the beauty as well as elegance pervade throughout (it's funerealism casts a shadow also, but the melancholy is not as overwhelming as one might expect). The ceremonious passage (depicting Richard's dream of his triumph over the forces resisting his tyranny) is with imagination and somewhat cinematic with its bold gestures. And Kubelik really have this piece in full measure (how graceful is his handling of that secondary subject, with such poetry & inner world of wonder and woefulness). But Novak's South Bohemian Suite (1936-1937) is the real find here. Is the work written when his native land was under the Nazi's threat. Yet this highly visionary piece remained dignified and the reflection, lofty. Is not a rebellious piece per se, but a testament of man's appreciation of life and nature when the surrounding seems threatening and uncertain. And while I've listened to the first movement "Pastorals" (Horizons) in particular, a number of composers sprung up in my mind in the inner beauty, poise, and the playfulness they themselves are masters of: Bax, Delius, Dohnanyi, Suk, Kodaly, Janacek, and fleetingly Myaskovsky (his Lyric Concertino) and for a slight moment, even Nikolai Rakov. Although there are some melancholy within, the piece is not self-defeating but absorbing in its own right. The Second movement "Dreaming" is equally as enthralling and the harp arpeggio towards the end add magic and wonder while the "Once Upon a Time" third movement and Epilogue add to my conviction that this piece is perhaps Novak's masterpiece. Kubelik's approach and the Czech Philharmonic's response glow as the piece goes along. It's the performance of such conviction and inner poetics that would (and quite frankly should) convey to even the skeptics of how major this piece actually is (no more than five recordings of the score is especially appalling). But, never mind the well justified advocacy for the moment. Just enjoy the piece, the disc, the performances, and Jaromir Havlik's informative booklet essay. Because to do otherwise will be a misfortune."