Smetana: Má Vlast

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

'It hardly needs saying that there is nothing banal about Bychkov’s meticulously mapped performances and that his attention to detail never stifles the music’s spontaneity...In sum, an enriching... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2024, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 1st Mar 2024
Catalogue No: PTC5187203
Label: Pentatone
Length: 81 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

April 2024

Editor's Choice
BBC Music Magazine

April 2024

Orchestral Choice

In stock

Usually despatched within 1 working day

Smetana: Má Vlast

Work length1:21:44

Album only

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Semyon Bychkov

I. Vyšehrad

Track length15:59

Album only

II. Vltava

Track length13:09

$2.15

$2.60

$3.20

III. Šárka

Track length10:37

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

IV. Z českých luhů a hájů

Track length12:47

$2.15

$2.60

$3.20

V. Tábor

Track length13:47

$2.15

$2.60

$3.20

VI. Blaník

Track length15:25

Album only

About
Reviews
Videos
Explore

About

MUSICAL CONTEMPLATION ON WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A HOMELAND The Czech Philharmonic and its Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov present a new recording of Bed ř ich Smetana’s masterpiece Má vlast (My Homeland). The album celebrates both the bicentenary of Smetana's birth and, the start of 2024's Year of Czech Music which has been celebrated every ten years since Smetana's 100th anniversary in 1924. Má vlast (1874 - 1878) is a potent symbol of the Czech Republic's turbulent political history and has played an important role in the Czech national movement. Contemplating the landscape, history, and legends of Bohemia, Má vlast is best known for its world - famous Moldau melody. For Bychkov, who was born in Russia before emigrating to the United States, and now lives in France, the question of 'the homeland' is particularly poignant - how to take pride in the best of its heritage, while also coming to terms with its darker pages. For the Orchestra to revisit this seminal piece with Bychkov, with whom it has developed such a close working relationship over the past few years, makes the recording all the more personal and topical. The Czech Philharmonic is one of the world’s orchestral gems, recognised for its rich tradition with the Czech masters as well as European repertoire. Semyon Bychkov who is internationally renowned for his interpretations of the core repertoire, began his tenure with the Orchestra at the start of the 2018/19 season. Together, they have so far recorded for Pentatone Mahler ’s First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (2022 - 2023), part of the complete Mahler cycle to be released by the label. The Orchestra is also featured on the album Folk Songs (2023) recorded by Magdalena Kožená and Sir Simon Rattle.

Reviews

April 2024

'It hardly needs saying that there is nothing banal about Bychkov’s meticulously mapped performances and that his attention to detail never stifles the music’s spontaneity...In sum, an enriching Má Vlast up there with the other indisputably great performances.

April 2024

I think it’s Bychkov’s ability to relate phrasing to sound that is at the heart of his success here. He plainly relishes the orchestra’s natural blend while celebrating the beauty of its soloists.

2nd March 2024

superbly played with matchless understanding and character.

6th March 2024

Whether the nationalistic mood being struck is lyrical or martial, Bychkov’s musicians deliver idiomatic rhythms, incisive string playing and equally pungent brass wind and brass, all caught in the warm acoustic of the Rudolfinum ― the orchestra’s home base in Prague for 60 years. Everything too appears freshly considered and deeply felt. Nothing is overplayed.

Videos

An error occurred.

Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.

New,Smetana: Má Vlast

CD

Downloads

Contents

Download queue