SMETANA B., JANÁČEK L., KOVAŘOVIC K., BLODEK V., DVOŘÁK A. / CPO, PRSO / V.Talich

CD I 77:38

Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)

1. Vyšehrad 15:33

2. Vltava 12:17

3. Šárka 10:30

Vilém Blodek (1834-1874)

4. In the Well - Overture 8:01

Karel Kovařovic (1862-1920)

5. Miners Polka 2:37

Bedřich Smetana

6. Our lasses 3:25

7. Libuše - Overture 8:47

8. The Two Widows - Anežka, Recitative and Aria, Act II 10:07

9. Prague Carnival - Introduction and Polonaise 5:22

CD II 55:10

Leoš Janáček (1854-1928)

The Cunning Little Vixen - Suite from the Opera, arr. V. Talich

1. I. Andante 9:22

2. II. Allegro 9:41

Josef Suk (1874-1935)

3. II. A Fairy-tale, Op. 16, The Swans and Peacocks-game 3:38

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

4. The Noon Witch, Op. 108 (B 196, 1896) 13:56

Václav Talich speaking - Bonus

5. Rehersal of Dvořák's New World Symphony, 1954 4:44

6. Speech after being wished well on his name day, 1954 2:21

7. Rehearsal of Dvořák's cello concerto, 1952 9:43

Epilog

8. Talich reminisces, 1956 1:00

Mstislav Rostropovich cello (CDII 7), Ludmila Dvořáková soprano (CDI 8)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (CDI 8)

Václav Talich conductor

CDI: 6.9.1929 (1-3), 30.4.1940 (4-7), 24.4.1953 (8), 6.6.1953 (9)

CDII: 13.4.1954 (1,2), 18.3.1954 (3) 2.6.1954 (4)

The final title in the Talich Special Edition series is a sort of chronological cross-section of Talich's recordings. It opens with the symphonic poems (Vyšehrad, Vltava, Šárka) recorded in 1929 when Talich first caught the recording bug, accepting an offer from His Master's Voice to record Smetana's complete My Country with the Czech Philharmonic. The recording presents Talich at the peak of his powers, standing at the head of his polished and devoted Czech Philharmonic and lauded as one of the greatest directors on the European continent. Talich and the Czech Philharmonic also recorded a remarkable series of Czech compositions (including the Slavonic Dances, Prague Carnival, and Suk's Serenade for String Orchestra) during the 1930's in London.

The recording of the overture to Smetana's Libuše, an opera whose performance had long been forbidden by the Nazis, dates from 1940-41.

Rare recordings from rehearsals give us a unique glimpse into Talich's creative process.

(Supraphon 2007)