Prom 50: Kaprálová / Dvořák / Janáček, Czech PO / Prague Phil. Choir, Fujita / Hrůša

[Ein Heldenleben]

Great Crit. E.H.
To think that Janacek was born before Edward Elgar!

Can’t put into words what I thought about tonight’s performance but the choir were so good they made me think I understood Glagolitic..

[LMcD]

But for me it would have been better if Mr Simeone had been invited to do a scripted, uninterrupted introduction to the Glagolitic mass as the interval feature, taking advantage of his knowledge and expertise in this repertoire. We have been here before, but I find the over-exuberant (IMV) Proms presentation by TS hard to cope with. Could someone at R3 persuade him that less is more?

Over-exuberance is Tom's forte.

[Petrushka]

This was the greatest Glagoltic I've ever heard, live or recorded. I'm still absolutely buzzing from it! In all respects it was the ideal Glagolitic and I don't expect to hear one better this side of the pearly gates. Just magnificent!

[Ein Heldenleben]

This was the greatest Glagoltic I've ever heard, live or recorded. I'm still absolutely buzzing from it! In all respects it was the ideal Glagolitic and I don't expect to hear one better this side of the pearly gates. Just magnificent!

yep utterly overwhelming which is why for once I’m lost for words !

[Historian]

This was the greatest Glagoltic I've ever heard, live or recorded. I'm still absolutely buzzing from it! In all respects it was the ideal Glagolitic and I don't expect to hear one better this side of the pearly gates. Just magnificent!

Yes, absolutely magnificent. Fantastic tenor especially, the organ was wonderful and such a fine choir.

So pleased we went to both the Czech PO concerts. Agree that the Dvorak PC was excellent and really enjoyed the Kapralova which was entirely new to me.

[Maclintick]

The Kaprálová Military Sinfonietta was hilariously reminiscent of Malcolm Arnold or Georges Auric in Ealing comedy mode - bucolic high jinks & sweetly romantic interludes. Mao Fujita then turned in a sensational performance of the Dvořák concerto.

EH’s crit of the Glagolitic encapsulates tonight’s stunning performance. What an orchestra & chorus !
Christian Schmitt gave in to temptation in the Postlude & pulled out so many stops on the RAH organ that the concluding Intrada was bound to sound puny by comparison. It did, but what the hell ? The whole thing was magnificent.

[Petrushka]

I see that there is a 2 CD set of the complete orchestral works of Vitezlava Kapralova, including the Military Sinfonietta, on the CPO label. I've ordered a copy.

One wonders how many more of these talented composers died tragically young in wartime Europe. In case anyone is wondering, Kapralova died from typhus fever.

[edashtav]

For those who missed it live , last night's Prom which could have been called From Bohemia's Woods and Fields should be a must catch up on SOUNDS because it contained three outstanding performances.by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and friends. Their Glagolitic Mass was stunning and included the RAH organ in passages which will test your hifi!

[edashtav]

But for me it would have been better if Mr Simeone had been invited to do a scripted, uninterrupted introduction to the Glagolitic mass as the interval feature, taking advantage of his knowledge and expertise in this repertoire. We have been here before, but I find the over-exuberant (IMV) Proms presentation by TS hard to cope with. Could someone at R3 persuade him that less is more?

Absolutely right,Wychwood but last night's messy, on the hoof interview was 'as cheap as chips" and your suggestion might have cost so much that Radio 3 could have been driven to send its 'talents, ' I.e. Tom and Sam to a PAWNSHOP.
GOSH I nearly penned PORNSHOP.

[richardfinegold]

I see that there is a 2 CD set of the complete orchestral works of Vitezlava Kapralova, including the Military Sinfonietta, on the CPO label. I've ordered a copy.

One wonders how many more of these talented composers died tragically young in wartime Europe. In case anyone is wondering, Kapralova died from typhus fever.

Her death date suggests that she died during the fall of France in 1940. There were an estimated 10 million people fleeing that summer and sanitation must have been horrific

[LHC]

I was there last night and can only agree with what has been said already. A superb concert with marvellous playing by the Czech Philharmonic.

I have seen the Glagolitic Mass a few times, and have several recordings, but last night's performance was simply magnificent and easily tops the lot. A friend of mine was initially apprehensive as he had never 'got' the Glagolitic Mass before, but he was bowled over by the performance.

I was particularly struck by the sheer beauty of some of the playing by the Czech Philharmonic in all three pieces.

I also thought that it bodes well for the upcoming performances of Jenufa at the Opera House, which Hrusa will be conducting.

[Darkbloom]

I didn't get around to seeing them this season but it's definitely true that the Czech PO has maintained a distinctive sound, although I'm not quite sure how I'd describe it. I last saw them with Bychkov doing Shostakovich 8 and it was a pleasure to hear them even though the symphony itself has always left me cold.

[Petrushka]

Her death date suggests that she died during the fall of France in 1940. There were an estimated 10 million people fleeing that summer and sanitation must have been horrific

Apparently, she was already seriously ill when she fled Paris as the German Army advanced on the city. She died on June 16 1940, aged 25, two days after the Germans entered Paris.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I was there last night and can only agree with what has been said already. A superb concert with marvellous playing by the Czech Philharmonic.

I have seen the Glagolitic Mass a few times, and have several recordings, but last night's performance was simply magnificent and easily tops the lot. A friend of mine was initially apprehensive as he had never 'got' the Glagolitic Mass before, but he was bowled over by the performance.

I was particularly struck by the sheer beauty of some of the playing by the Czech Philharmonic in all three pieces.

I also thought that it bodes well for the upcoming performances of Jenufa at the Opera House, which Hrusa will be conducting.

Indeed it does - wonderful production that.

[makropulos]

I would echo a lot of what other posters have already said. In the hall, this was as magnificent a performance of the Glagolitic Mass as any I've heard – since my very first (Andrew Davis, BBCSO, 18 November 1970 in the RFH – as a wildly enthusiastic schoolboy, aged 13 3/4 at the time, I was told off by a rather dour neighbour for being 'too enthuasiastic' at the end of that performance). Many others followed: Edward Downes with the Philharmonia, Rudolf Kempe with the RPO, Charles Mackerras with BBC forces at a Prom (tremendous – and plenty more Mackerras performances followed), Norman Del Mar (another Prom), and – among memorable later ones – Jakub Hrusa and the Philharmonia at the RFH about 10 years ago. Last night crowned them all, I think – particularly as it's a piece that's always accident prone in live performances and there were none of those last night – but all the risk-taking one could wish for. The broadcast (some of which I've listened to today) is a bit safety-first in terms of the engineering: the sheer visceral energy (and mighty weight of sound) from the orchestra, organ and the amazing choral contribution (how fabulous to hear this piece sung live by an outstanding Czech choir) seems a little softened and 'tamed'. Even so, it comes over pretty well.

It was also splendid to have the final version including the extra bars in the Svet movement (16 bars of Hosannas) which Mackerras included in his first Supraphon recording but which were omitted from the first edition (and most subsequent editions) of the vocal score as Janacek decided to cut them.

It was a total privilege to do the interval talk for this one – a joyous occasion, including one of the most refined performances I've ever heard of the Dvorak Piano Concerto, and a terrific chance to hear a live account of Kapralová's brilliant and splendidly concise Military Sinfonietta. What an evening!