Search - Josef [Composer] Suk, Antonin Dvorak, Jaroslav Krcek :: Suk, Dvorák: Serenades for Strings

Exceptional! One of my favorite CDs

charles morgan, music fanatic | 09/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This find Naxos recording is one of my favorite CDs - a lyrical, peaceful, joyful recording of two of the most beautiful string works there are (along with Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, which Naxos has also recorded very well).



Jaroslav Krcek and the Capella Istropolitana prove conclusively that they ought to be more well known than they are. The Capella is a very good band, as their Mozart symphonic half-cycle (also on Naxos) proved beyond a doubt, and Krcek is just as good (I'm pleasantly surprised, because his name is the most obscure one could imagine).



The performance of Suk's Serenade is the real highlight (apologies to the other reviewer). The Josef Suk work is a masterpiece, and it comes shining through. All of it is lovely, parts emotional and even melancholy, but the overall character one of joy. The recording is all one could ask for, as beautiful as music can possibly get, and there is no point in buying a pricier version with a household name when this one is so stellar. I cannot stop listening to it.



I've never liked the Dvorak Serenade as much as the Suk, as it seems to be less of an achievement than Suk's lovely piece, but it is played very well here as well.



Fabulous performances of fabulous music! Heart-meltingly beautiful. Kudos to Naxos. My second Naxos CD, and my second very pleasant surprise from same. Keep up the stellar work!"

Suprisingly one the the best performances available

J. Vich | Prague, Czech Republic, EUROPE | 07/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Naxos is bargain label, but sometimes, its recordings must be counted to the top category, according to musical performance quality (and in the sound quality too).

This is just the case - especially in Dvorak's Serenade. Compared to many others (including Sir Marriner / ASMF), this performace is one of the top ever recorded. For both compositions, I would recommend you to choose from any Czech (or former Czechoslovakian) orchsetra and conductor, and from those, Capella Istropolitana is excellent choice. More skillfully than others, they deliver the joy and happiness - which is engine of Dvorak's Serenede, and they are very capable of catching Suk's melancholic moods, painted in his serenade. Strongly recommended - and stay far from Marriner's, Kempe's, or simillar performances of these piece(s)."