Martinů, Bohuslav (1890-1959)

[Pulcinella]

Repackaged, but not remastered.

Thanks.
I'll go for the cheaper option, then.

[Bryn]

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.

Received this morning in response to my sending them a note of appreciation and advising them of why they might be finding a spate of orders for the set:

Thank you for your nice message which explains me reason why more customers ordered in few hours one specific CD, although it is not new title.
Your parcel was send as first, more copies of Martinů 3CD set will be on stock today and then we imediately[sic] send rest orders other Martinů music lovers.
best wishes form autumn Prague and thank you also for promoting us,

[jayne lee wilson]

My cz set isn't here yet of course, but do listen to this outstanding New Release I mentioned earlier today....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/dvorak-martinu-piano-concertos-ivo-kahanek-jakub-hrusa-bamberger-symphoniker/y5cb66itcukja

Quite wonderful, dazzling, virtuoso and poetic reading of the Incantations.... orchestra and soloist almost outdoing each other, reaching ever higher, in their brilliance!

[Pulcinella]

Mine isn't here yet of course, but do listen to this outstanding New Release I mentioned earlier today....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/dvorak-martinu-piano-concertos-ivo-kahanek-jakub-hrusa-bamberger-symphoniker/y5cb66itcukja

Quite wonderful, dazzling, virtuoso and poetic reading of the Incantations.... orchestra and soloist almost outdoing each other in their brilliance!

Nor mine (obviously), but Deezer has the new release too, so it's lined up for listening to once the workmen in the house have left/stopped drilling etc! Even Incantations can't compete against that din.

[Bryn]

Nor mine (obviously), but Deezer has the new release too, so it's lined up for listening to once the workmen in the house have left/stopped drilling etc! Even Incantations can't compete against that din.

I have just listened to the first disc of the set and am suitably impressed. Off to meet up with an old Kiwi friend now but will listen to the others over the next few days.

[BBMmk2]

I have acquiainted myself with his Symphonies, I know his Piano Concertos now, so I think it’s time to know the other types of works he wrote.

[Bryn]

I have acquiainted myself with his Symphonies, I know his Piano Concertos now, so I think it’s time to know the other types of works he wrote.

How's your French? The Barbican Belohlavek performance of Juliette could be made available to you, or in somewhat less well defined audio, the outstanding E.N.O. Mackerras performance of Julietta (in English). This was the opera the composer held most dear. Otherwise, though I do not get on with it as well as I do Julietta/e, the forthcoming broadcast (Some time in November) of the Opera North production of The Greek Passion is worth listening out for. Don't forget the String Quartets (mentioned up-thread. There's a Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra, too.

[BBMmk2]

I’m playing Martinu’s Violin Concertos at the moment, on Spotify, and the recording sounds pretty good, to my ears. Any others that might be worth considering?

[johnb]

I have acquiainted myself with his Symphonies, I know his Piano Concertos now, so I think it’s time to know the other types of works he wrote.

If you haven't already done so it is worth hearing the Double Concerto and the Frescoes. These were my introduction to Martinu back in the 60s and I then found the performances by Sejna and Ancerl respectively electrifying and viscerally exciting. I still return to the Sejna recording of the Double Concerto for its intensity. Compared to the Sejna, many other recordings seem somewhat flabby or even have longueurs.

[jayne lee wilson]

Les Fresques & Double Concerto?
Two wonderful recordings here, truly audiophile sound, but very different interpretively....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Dou...107947&sr=8-24

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Francesca-Rhapsody-concerto-Orchestra-Concerto/dp/B000027EB9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=martinu+BIS&qid=1570108441&s=music&sr=1-2

The Mackerras is on the ragged edge for ensemble occasionally but with such vivid immediate dynamic sound you won't mind!
De Preist more spacious and lyrical, seems cooler, a bit "dark" in balance initially, but at a higher volume it swirls around your room with scale and power (thunderous rumbling timps)....you soon learn to go with it.....
The Viola Rhapsody-Concerto on the BIS is a lovely, lyrical work.

So get both. Go on, you know you want to!

***
There are quite a few good stereo Frescoes....
Kout/Arte Nova and Ashkenazy/Ondine among them. Ancerl has an all-authentic timbre & intensity of course, but better sound and wider-ranging readings allow the music space to expand though climaxes and relax in its less intense moments, vital if Martinu isn't to become too relentless on the heart or ears....

[Bryn]

Les Fresques & Double Concerto?
Two wonderful recordings here, truly audiophile sound, but very different interpretively....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Dou...107947&sr=8-24

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Francesca-Rhapsody-concerto-Orchestra-Concerto/dp/B000027EB9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=martinu+BIS&qid=1570108441&s=music&sr=1-2

The Mackerras is on the ragged edge for ensemble occasionally but with such vivid immediate dynamic sound you won't mind!
De Preist more spacious and lyrical, seems cooler, a bit "dark" in balance initially, but at a higher volume it swirls around your room with scale and power (thunderous rumbling timps)....you soon learn to go with it.....
The Viola Rhapsody-Concerto on the BIS is a lovely, lyrical work.

So get both. Go on, you know you want to!

***
There are quote a few good stereo Frescoes....
Kout/Arte Nova and Ashkenazy/Ondine among them. Ancerl has an all-authentic timbre & intensity of course, but better sound and wider-ranging readings allow the music space to expand though climaxes and relax in its less intense moments, vital if Martinu isn't to become too relentless on the heart or ears....

The PRSO/Mackerras recordings cited are also to be found in the excellent "Sir Charles Mackerras Life with Czech Music" boxed set previously mentioned.

[BBMmk2]

Les Fresques & Double Concerto?
Two wonderful recordings here, truly audiophile sound, but very different interpretively....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Dou...107947&sr=8-24

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Francesca-Rhapsody-concerto-Orchestra-Concerto/dp/B000027EB9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=martinu+BIS&qid=1570108441&s=music&sr=1-2

The Mackerras is on the ragged edge for ensemble occasionally but with such vivid immediate dynamic sound you won't mind!
De Preist more spacious and lyrical, seems cooler, a bit "dark" in balance initially, but at a higher volume it swirls around your room with scale and power (thunderous rumbling timps)....you soon learn to go with it.....
The Viola Rhapsody-Concerto on the BIS is a lovely, lyrical work.

So get both. Go on, you know you want to!

***
There are quite a few good stereo Frescoes....
Kout/Arte Nova and Ashkenazy/Ondine among them. Ancerl has an all-authentic timbre & intensity of course, but better sound and wider-ranging readings allow the music space to expand though climaxes and relax in its less intense moments, vital if Martinu isn't to become too relentless on the heart or ears....

Very naughty but I’m sure very nice!

[HighlandDougie]

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!

The Jiri Kout CD may be the best €1,46 worth I've spent in some time - as Jayne describes, "wonderful recorded sound", and fine performances. As well as that CD, this thread has had me - successfully - search out the de Priest CD and Master J's recommended "Concerto da Camera" on Amazon France Marketplace to add to the Hogwood/Hyperion violin set, the Czech Radio PCs (on their way) and the new Supraphon piano concerti CD. String Quartets next, I think.

[Pulcinella]

Piano concerto set just arrived: very impressed with the service/delivery/packaging.
Many thanks for the tip about these recordings.

PS: Very hard to get CDs out/off their little holders, though. I've put them in spare separate cases instead.

[sgjames]

A video of the 1992 BBC Ken Russell film ' The Mystery of Dr Martinu' -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE1qGaF1rJw

Not from Russell's top drawer, but worth a look for Martinu fans at least.