Prague Symphony Orchestra - Piano Concertos; Paganini Rhapsody - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

An extraordinary constellation of artists is one the major attributes of the new recording - a Czech conductor and a Czech soloist, and a German orchestra, who have a Czech sound in their DNA. All three of them enjoy great renown in both the European and global contexts. Symbolical is the selection of the album's repertoire - the same world war that deprived the players of the German Philharmonic in Prague of their home and that in 1946 gave rise to the Bamberger Symphoniker in Germany, made Bohuslav Martinu leave his country and Europe itself. The composer wrote his Piano Concerto No. 4, InchIncantationInch, in New York in the twilight of his life, when it was evident that he would never return to his homeland. The connection between Ivo Kahánek and Martinu is profound indeed, with the pianist having played the Incantation at concert halls all over the world. The performance of the Incantation in Bamberg, captured on the present album, was lauded by the critics as revelatory. The studio recording of Antonín Dvorák's Piano Concerto (based on Sviatoslav Richter's account) ranks among the most remarkable returns to the composer's original version of the work, forbearing the Incheffective and virtuoso improvementsInch carried out by it's later arrangers. It showcases the tender and melodious music of Dvorák, who always strove to emphasise cordial expression, giving it preference to instrumental impression.

Vaclav Vonasek - Concertos & Sonatas [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/26/2013

The highly valued discography of Ivan Moravec (1930-2015), one of the 20th century's piano legends, comes to a great extent from recording studios. However, thanks to radio microphones some of his remarkable concert performances in Prague concert halls could be retrieved as well. From 1962 on, he performed twenty times at the Prague Spring festival alone. He played Prokofiev's first concerto at the festival in May 1967 and the recording captures one of the top - and also one of the last - performances of Karel Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonics before his leaving for Toronto. The Ravel recording from May 1974 represents another unforgettable musical experience and no doubt also one of the best Ravel creations ever performed by Moravec. What is more, the recording of the Grieg concert played in December 1984 is the only recording made public by the virtuoso pianist. Microphones have captured Ivan Moravec in his top shape, his play possessing romantic flight, ferocity and a wide range of timbre nuances on the one hand, and remarkable preciseness on the other. At every moment, Moravec is deeply sunk in the substance of the work he performs. By this threesome of recordings, Supraphon supplements the pianist's existing discography by unexpected gems found in the radio archives, undoubtedly pleasing all of his admirers. Album Tracks 1. I. Allegro Molto Moderato - Ivan Moravec/Prague Symphony Orchestra 2. II. Adagio - Ivan Moravec/Prague Symphony Orchestra 3. III. Allegro Moderato Molto E Marcato - Ivan Moravec/Prague Symphony Orchestra 4. I. Allegramente - Ivan Moravec/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 5. II. Adagio Assai - Ivan Moravec/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 6. III. Presto - Ivan Moravec/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 7. I. Allegro Brioso - Ivan Moravec/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 8. II. Andante Assai - Ivan Moravec/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 9. II