A wondrous journey trough the scenic landscapes of Bohemia and Moravia which have inspired generation of composers.
Dreams and Journeys
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Symphony in D major KV 504, Andante
Fryderik Chopin - Impromptu in A flat major, Op.29
Antonín Dvořák - Humoresque in G flat major, Op.101 No.7,
Antonín Dvořák - Slavonic Dance in F major, Scherzo
Gustav Mahler - Symphony No.1 in D major, Scherzo
Bedřich Smetana - Triumphal Symphony in E major, Op.6, Scherzo
Bedřich Smetana - Overture to the opera Bartered Bride
Leoš Janáček - Lachian Dances (No.2 The Blessed One, No.5 Celadna Dance, No.6 The Saws)
Josef Suk - Serenade in E flat major, Op.6, Movement 1
Jan Jakub Ryba - Concerto in D sharp major for Franch horn and chamber orchestra, movements 1 + 2
Supraphon, CR, 1998, 60 min stereo
In March 1998, Supraphon released its first DVD. Titled Dreams and Journeys, it featured an exclusive, visually refined programme, linking top-notch recordings of works by Mozart, Chopin, Dvořák, Mahler and Smetana with remarkable places in Bohemia and Moravia, which had been visited by the respective composers and at which they lived or wrote music. By accomplishing the project, Supraphon was a pioneer among European labels in releasing DVD titles that featured classical music !
In the course of its long history, the Czech country, a small territory in the middle of Europe, has had close relations with most of the greatest composers in the world. Each of them has left an imprint in the history of the country, and the Czech Lands have left an imprint in their souls and music.
The cycle Czech Lands - Country of Musicians consists of ten short parts. Each of them is based on a famous piece by one of the musical geniuses: Mozart, Dvořák, Chopin, Smetana, Mahler, Suk, Janáček and Ryba. The music is illustrated by picturesque views of the town and countryside where the composer lived or stayed for some time.
"Mozart’s Rendezvous in Prague", accompanied by Andante from the Prague Symphony, offers a flow of pictures of Prague tinted with slight melancholy, imposed by the music. We travel in an open carriage through Prague and visit the places where Mozart stayed (the famous villa Bertramka, house The Golden Angel, The Three Golden Lions) or gave concerts (Pachtovsky Palace and the Nostic Theatre where Don Giovanni was premiered).
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Symphony in D major "Prague", Andante / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch time: 9:15
Fryderyk Chopin visited Marienbad (a famous spa resort in Western Bohemia) in 1836. He had a romance there with Maria Wodzynska, his childhood friend and former pupil. Chopin’s love was not fulfilled. He kept the rose she had given him in Marienbad his entire life. The autumn nostalgic mood of the city’s beautiful buildings in Biedermayer, Art Nouveau and Pseudo-Gothic styles pictured in the "Marienbader Impromptu" brings about a memory of Chopin’s stay in Marienbad.
FRYDERYK CHOPIN: Impromptu in A flat, Op. 29 / Valentina Kameníková - piano time: 4:04
Antonín Dvořák’s Humoresque has a magnificent melody and apart from that a system, logic, rhythm, tempo and order. All of these qualities Dvořák admired in the products of the 19th century technical revolution. In "Prague Humoresque", we will follow the traces of the 19th century in Prague and the places where Dvořák lived, taught, where his compositions were played, and through the places he loved.
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: Humoresque / Yuriko Kuronuma - violin, Alfréd Holeček - piano time: 3:10
"Prague Victorious" is based on Smetana’s Overture to the Bartered Bride. The lively music accompanies the Prague scenery which dates back to the period of the social upsurge at the turn of the century - the National Theatre, the facades of the beautifully decorated houses along the embankment, statues, spires, reliefs, etc.
BEDŘICH SMETANA: Overture to the Bartered Bride / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Zdeněk Košler time: 6:34
"Serenade"
In accordance with the joyful melody and youthful romanticism of Josef Suk’s Serenade in E flat, we are offered a flow of pictures from Suk’s birthplace Křečovice, a picturesque village in central Bohemia, and from the surrounding landscape.
JOSEF SUK: Serenade in E flat for String Orchestra Op. 6, Andante con moto / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek time: 6:03
"Roots of Life"
The sounds of three of Janáček’s Lachian Dances will take us to the beautiful regions of Lachia and Valachia, to Janáček’s birthplace Hukvaldy, a village in North Moravia, and to the unique open-air museum of folk architecture in Rožnov.
LEOŠ JANÁČEK: Lachian Dances (Požehnaný, Čeladenský, Pilky) / State Philharmonic Orchestra Brno, František Jílek time: 6:45
"Memories of Childhood"
Until the age of 15, Gustav Mahler lived with his parents in the Czech town of Jihlava. We will visit his birthplace in a nearby village, walk through Jihlava and see the surrounding countryside as well as the town of Olomouc, where he lived and composed.
GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 in D major "Titan", Scherzo / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Neumann time: 8:25
"Autumn Concerto"
The melodious baroque composition by the renowned Czech composer J.J. Ryba, author of the famous Czech Christmas Mass, underlines the magical views of Czech coutryside and the castle of Opočno with hunting motifs that resound in the music.
JAKUB JAN RYBA: Concerto in D sharp for French Horn and Chamber Orchestra / Pilsen Radio Orchestra, Stanislav Macura, Stanislav Suchánek - French Horn time: 7:45
"South Bohemian Minuet"
The Slavonic Dance in the minuet tempo is accompanied by the sunny rolling landscape of South Bohemia, which abounds in ponds, woods and fields.
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: Slavonic Dance No. 4 in F major / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Neumann time: 6:40
"Inspiration for Scherzo"
Bedřich Smetana was born in the picturesque town of Litomyšl. Accompanied by the Scherzo from his Triumphal Symphony, we will visit Smetana’s birthplace, the magnificent Renaissance chateau of Litomyšl, which is situated opposite Smetana’s house, and the tranquil surrounding countryside.
BEDŘICH SMETANA: Triumphal Symphony in E major, Scherzo / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Šejna time: 9:59
Koncem března 1998 Supraphon vydává svůj první titul na DVD. Pod názvem Dreams and Journeys jde o vizuálně velice exkluzivně zpracovaný program, který propojuje špičkové nahrávky skladeb Mozarta, Chopina, Dvořáka, Mahlera a Smetany s pozoruhodnými místy na území Čech a Moravy. Jsou to místa, která zmínění skladatelé navštívili, kde pobývali a komponovali. Supraphon realizací tohoto DVD získal evropské prvenství v oblasti vydávání DVD titulů s klasickou hudbou!
(Supraphon 1998)
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