Our Summer BAL: 4 Smetana's Ma Vlast

[verismissimo]

I think of this as a quintessentially summer work. Not sure why.

Vintage or new? Czech or not?

Favourites please!

[BBMmk2]

Hello verissimo!

I have two recordings of this work. One is the live recording with Rafael Kubelik and the Czech PO.Quite special this one, as it was the one made just after the 'Velvet Revolution'(I think).Quite atmospheric and the other is with Sir Charles Mackerrass, again with the Czech PO.

I know what you mean by this being a 'summer' work. I get certain impressions with music, or by certain composers even. I am not sure why that is though!

[verismissimo]

Hi BBM,
I don't have either of those - the Kubelik I have is with the Boston SO.
They both appeal greatly. If you could only keep one, which would it be?

[makropulos]

I think of this as a quintessentially summer work. Not sure why.

Vintage or new? Czech or not?

Favourites please!

This is a tough one since there are several very, very good ones, but for me it does have to be Czech (despite some very good recordings by other European and American orchestras). This thread got me hunting around for informationn about the opening concert of the Prague Spring festival which has had a performance Ma Vlast every year since 1952 (interestingly, it didn't start that way). For anyone intrigued, there's a (fascinating) list of these opening concerts and their conductors and orchestras (not always the Czech Phil) here: http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahajov...k%C3%A9ho_jara

Anyhow, I have Sejna, Ancerl, Kubelik and Mackerras - all with the Czech Phil and all on Supraphon, as well as two Talich recordings. They all have extremely good things about them (though Sejna's is in pretty grim sound), but the two most recent of them (Kubelik and Mackerras) are the two I listen to most often and they're both wonderful. The Kubelik performance was a really special occasion, but Mackerras (also live, in 1999) is thrilling too.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Available versions:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jirí Belohlávek
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Smetacek
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras
Janácek Philharmonic Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimír Válek
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Walter Susskind
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Vienna Philharmonic, James Levine
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi
Staatskapelle Dresden, Paavo Berglund
Prague Symphony Orchestra, Tomáš Netopil
Radio Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt, Eliahu Inbal
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Zdenek Macal
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Claus Peter Flor
Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Vaclav Neumann
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich (1929)
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
Prague Philharmonic, Jakub Hrůša
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Antal Doráti 1956
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek

DVD
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl (DVD)
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik (DVD)

[makropulos]

Available versions:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jirí Belohlávek
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Smetacek
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras
Janácek Philharmonic Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimír Válek
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Walter Susskind
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Vienna Philharmonic, James Levine
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi
Staatskapelle Dresden, Paavo Berglund
Prague Symphony Orchestra, Tomáš Netopil
Radio Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt, Eliahu Inbal
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Zdenek Macal
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Claus Peter Flor
Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Vaclav Neumann
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich (1929)
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
Prague Philharmonic, Jakub Hrůša
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Antal Doráti 1956
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek

DVD
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl (DVD)
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik (DVD)

There are a few more that are certainly around (apoologies if I've simply missed these in your long list!)
Boston SO, Kubelik (DG)
Vienna PO, Kubelik (German Eloquence)
Israel PO, Mehta (Sony)
Kyoto SO, Uwe Mund (Arte Nova)
London Classical Players, Norrington (Virgin)
Czech PO, Talich (1954, Supraphon)
Israel PO, Weller (Decca)
Chicago SO, Kubelik (Mercury)







I've got 1986 as the date of Dorati's record, not 1956. Did he do it twice?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks for the update, Makropulos. My list was gleaned from the Presto website, and I know they don't include absolutely everything. Not sure about the Dorati.

[Bryn]

The wonderful LCP/Norrington recording may not currently be in the catalogue but it's certainly not unavailable. It may be ordered new, used or as a download from Amazon, for instance.

[makropulos]

The wonderful LCP/Norrington recording may not currently be in the catalogue but it's certainly not unavailable. I may be ordered new, used or as a download from Amazon, for instance.

And I think the nice people at Arkivmusic have it in their list of licensed custom pressings too - either way it's well worth hearing.

[BBMmk2]

Hi BBM,
I don't have either of those - the Kubelik I have is with the Boston SO.
They both appeal greatly. If you could only keep one, which would it be?

Very difficult verissimo! It would have to be the Mackerras(I think!?!?)

[verismissimo]

Not mentioned thus far, I particularly like the Czech Phil under Vaclav Neumann from 1975. He was the regular conductor around that time in the performance for the opening of the Prague Spring Festival. I have it on a Supraphon LP. All the notes are in Czech. Maybe it wasn't issued internationally?

[verismissimo]

I've kept till last re-listening to the famous Czech PO/Talich recording of Ma Vlast from 1954.

My impression is that its tempi are generally a touch faster than both Kubelik and Neumann, and the overall feeling favours tension and drama, with not a scintilla of sentimentality.

What are others' views on Talich's recordings?

I've not heard his earlier efforts. I'd very much like to hear the 1929 one, but it's not currently available so far as I can tell.

[Barbirollians]

I see there is a 1939 Talich to be released shortly on Supraphon . I wonder if this is the performance Rob Cowan was raving about in Gramophone last year on a rather esoteric label .

I have just bought the Kubelik. Czech PO 1990 live second hand . It is electric and rather knocks my only other recording the estimable Wit on Naxos into a cocked hat .

[Legendary Dennis]

I have just received the 1939 live Talich performance and,yes, it is the one Rob Cowan was raving about in the Gramophone and on Radio 3. It is a very special performance of great historical importance and the feeling one gets is one of defiance whereas the 1990 Kubelik, equally as exciting, is one more of rejoicing. Both, in my view, are essential listening.

[Barbirollians]

Cheers for that LD.