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Magdalena Kozena presents a recital of Czech songs, together with the Czech Philharmonic under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle. The first impression of Czech songs may be atmospheric nature scenes, or stories about pretty peasant girls and village pranks, but the selection on this album demonstrates that the imagination of Czech song composers stretched far wider. For example, Bohuslav Martinu's Nipponari were inspired by Japanese culture, whereas his folksy Songs on One Page obtain a deeper meaning knowing that he wrote them in the US, having fled the Nazi threat. His colleagues and contemporaries Hans Krasa and Gideon Klein did not manage to get away, and both died in concentration camps. Krasa's German-language Four Orchestral Songs show a fascination with nonsense verse typical of avant-garde circles in the early 1920s. Klein's Lullaby can be traced back to Jewish folk songs, yet it's musical realization displays an openness to French musical styles. And no Czech song recital would be complete without good old Antonin Dvorak, whose Evening Songs and Songs, Op. 2 are included. Many of these works are best known with piano accompaniment, but are presented here in orchestrations. The Czech Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle marvellously bring out all the colours, while Kozena once more showcases her mastery in vernacular song. Album Tracks 1. Parto, Ma Tu Ben Mio (Erster Akt) 2. Le Belle Immagini (Act 2) 3. Qui Per Piet_ Mi Dice - Deh! Parlate, Parlate (Act 2) 4. Voi Che Sapete (Zweiter Akt) 5. Sar Qual S Il Torrente (Act 2) 6. Ah Qual Gelido Orror - Il Padre Adorato (Erster Akt) 7. O Del Mio Dolce Ardor (Act 1) 8. Dunque Sperar Poss'io/Il Tenero Momento (Act 1) 9. Va Pure Ad Altri in Braccio (Act 3) 10. Dunque Licida Ingrato - Pi_ Non Si Trovano (Act 2) 11. Se Mai Senti Spirarti Sul Volto (Act 2) 12. Che Non Mi Disse (Act 2) 13. Deh Per Qu
