Martinů, Bohuslav (1890-1959)

[Master Jacques]

Link here:

https://www.cdmusic.cz/en/bohuslav-martinu/martinu-b.-piano-concertos-nos.1-5-concertino-concerto-for-2-pianos-3cd-%5Bid%3DCR07762%5D

I'm interested in delivery cost etc, too, as this sounds an interesting set.
Worth a gamble, methinks!

Cdmusic.cz work out the postage by weight, so the more you buy, the better the deal. I usually wait until there are a batch of four or so recordings I want (it doesn't take long!) and then plunge in.

[Pulcinella]

Around £15.50 including p&p (depending on fluctuations in the exchange rate. I just ordered it.

Me too!

[johnb]

Around £15.50 including p&p (depending on fluctuations in the exchange rate. I just ordered it.

... and me.

I first came across Martinu in the 1960s when I picked up the Supraphon LP of the Double Concerto and Frescoes conducted by Sejna and Ancerl respectively. I still remember the electrifying, visceral excitement of those performances, in spite of the raw, hard sound. No other recording I've heard since comes close.

[Master Jacques]

Hmm, choosing to deprive oneself of Julietta/Juliette seems a step too far, to me. I presume you have at least availed yourself of the Orchestral Suite Martinu derived from the opera.

Never mind that - it has to be all or nothing! I couldn't deprive myself of The Greek Passion, the wonderful Ariane ("old" Celina Lindsley Supraphon version, not the newish issue with the rich but raucous Šaturová with a German band under Netopil), or even Mirandolina (though the only recording is a barely adequate Belarus performance).

Nor could I ever be without the complex choral works A Bouquet of Flowers and Spalicek, and least of all the three, simple but lovely, late Legends of which Legend of the Smoke from Potato Fires (wonderful title!) is my favourite. Plus of course the Field Mass and The Epic of Gilgamesh (original English preferred, as in the new recording of Brezina's new edition).

[Master Jacques]

I first came across Martinu in the 1960s when I picked up the Supraphon LP of Sejna conducting the Double Concerto and Ancerl conducting the Frescoes and I still remember the electrifying, visceral excitement when I heard those performances, in spite of the raw, hard sound. No other recording I've heard since comes close.

You vividly recall exactly my first encounter with that disc, and with Martinu, as well as the powerful feelings it evoked. Talk about "life changing" buys ... and the Turnovsky 4th Symphony wasn't far behind it.

[Pulcinella]

You vividly recall exactly my first encounter with that disc, and with Martinu, as well as the powerful feelings it evoked. Talk about "life changing" buys ... and the Turnovsky 4th Symphony wasn't far behind it.

That was MY first Martinu purchase. I don't remember now what prompted it, if anything other than willingness to take a gamble (or an attractive LP sleeve!).

[Bryn]

You vividly recall exactly my first encounter with that disc, and with Martinu, as well as the powerful feelings it evoked. Talk about "life changing" buys ... and the Turnovsky 4th Symphony wasn't far behind it.

I got several Supraphon recordings of works by Martinu in my youth. The one which most raised the hairs on the back of my neck was the Field Mass (Neumann)

[Master Jacques]

The one which most raised the hairs on the back of my neck was the Field Mass (Neumann)

I can identify with you there, too. Am I right in thinking that Supraphon have only re-released that performance in mp3 download form rather than on CD? And did you make the equally potent Proms performance a couple of seasons back under Jakub Hrusa? I for one could say nothing after hearing it live, so great was the music's effect in the hall.

[Bryn]

I can identify with you there, too. Am I right in thinking that Supraphon have only re-released that performance in mp3 download form rather than on CD? And did you make the equally potent Proms performance a couple of seasons back under Jakub Hrusa? I for one could say nothing after hearing it live, so great was the music's effect in the hall.

I was no aware of even an mp3 release of the Neumann, but yes, I did attend that Hrusa Prom. I see that QOBUZ has it, in two different couplings.

[HighlandDougie]

Cdmusic.cz work out the postage by weight, so the more you buy, the better the deal. I usually wait until there are a batch of four or so recordings I want (it doesn't take long!) and then plunge in.

Thanks, MJ, I've just ordered the PCs, too. I hope that they have sufficient copies to go round - I'm imagining what might be a slightly bemused response in Prague to this sudden influx of orders from the UK/France for the set - "something to do with their Supreme Court, no?". And, child-in-sweetshop time, it would have been churlish not to go through their other CDs so, as MJ says, the P&P ends up seeming reasonable when you add another few CDs to the Piano Concertos. The recent composer of the week on BM rekindled my interest in him so always happy to explore his extensive oeuvre for so-far unknown works.

[Pulcinella]

I got several Supraphon recordings of works by Martinu in my youth. The one which most raised the hairs on the back of my neck was the Field Mass (Neumann)

I had a Supraphon LP of Spalicek suites that I don't think has made it to CD.
I remember especially liking and being attracted by the sleeve artwork (and subsequently the music)!

Here it is:

https://www.discogs.com/fr/Martinů-Brno-State-Philharmonic-Orchestra-Jiř%C3%AD-Waldhans-Špal%C3%ADček-Two-Suites-From-The-Ballet/master/1538957

[Master Jacques]

Thanks, MJ, I've just ordered the PCs, too. I hope that they have sufficient copies to go round - I'm imagining what might be a slightly bemused response in Prague to this sudden influx of orders from the UK/France for the set - "something to do with their Supreme Court, no?". And, child-in-sweetshop time, it would have been churlish not to go through their other CDs so, as MJ says, the P&P ends up seeming reasonable when you add another few CDs to the Piano Concertos. The recent composer of the week on BM rekindled my interest in him so always happy to explore his extensive oeuvre for so-far unknown works.

Golly, I wish I was on commission with CDmusic.cz! They thoroughly deserve the business, though. Their online shop does produce that child-in-sweetshop feeling for me too - well put. They have, or had, a very pleasant real-world shop, just up one of the hills on the Old Town side of the Charles Bridge.

[Master Jacques]

I had a Supraphon LP of Spalicek suites that I don't think has made it to CD.
I remember especially liking and being attracted by the sleeve artwork (and subsequently the music)!

Here it is:
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Martinů-B...master/1538957

Nice to see that lovely cover again. Nothing - neither of the complete Supraphon sets, nor Jarvi's Suite with his Estonians, nor even Mackerras Brno Suite (though that comes closest) - has had quite the quaint, loving individuality of the Waldhans selection, I agree.

[jayne lee wilson]

... and me.

I first came across Martinu in the 1960s when I picked up the Supraphon LP of the Double Concerto and Frescoes conducted by Sejna and Ancerl respectively. I still remember the electrifying, visceral excitement of those performances, in spite of the raw, hard sound. No other recording I've heard since comes close.

Try this stunning dark horse.... wonderful recorded sound and performances which may, to say the least, put the sonically-hard-to-tolerate Ancerl (even on the Gold Edition) in a new perspective....powerful but with glittering transparency and a lovely lyrical feel. Hard to beat.

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/martinu-orchestral-works-jiri-kout/0888880783738

This and the Ondine are my top two for the work.

I was never much taken with the supposedly legendary Turnovsky 4th (I don't like Martinu hard driven to max-intensity too relentlessly); my pet favourite is the early Panton Prague SO/Belohlavek one....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000004AJZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sound a little dry, the symphonies each on a single track ( ) but the 4th has a freshness and schwung JB never quite recaptured in his 3(!) later efforts, good as they are....

Another, very idiosyncratic one-off....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Francesca-Rhapsody-concerto-Orchestra-Concerto/dp/B000027EB9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=martinu+BIS&qid=1569342152&s=music&sr=1-2

Sound may seem oddly dark at first, but whack up the volume and hope your system can cope with the Original Dynamics results!

[Master Jacques]

At the risk of Martinu overkill, following HighlandDougie's line of "exploring his extensive oeuvre for so-far unknown works", I would heartily recommend - especially to anyone who knows and loves the great Double Concerto - his orchestral Concerto da Camera H.285 from 1941.

It is one of his darkest, most introspective and powerful works, as I realised but recently. I have to say that the most convenient recording - the Hogwood/Matousek recording on Hyperion (Vol 2 of the complete violin and orchestra set) - although perfectly adequate, had never made me sit up and take note of what an extraordinary piece this was. Another, obscure and unreviewed CD did the trick:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000027G2P

This Austrian Chamber Orchestra disc isn't all Martinu, but it is available cheaply - and this Concerto da Camera is wonderfully Stygian and intense, getting to parts that the smooth and sophisticated Hogwood reading doesn't reach.