Legendary, critically acclaimed Suk recordings of Martinù’s concertos in newly re-mastered form. In 1973, together with the conductor Georg Solti, Josef Suk premiered Martinù’s first violin concerto in Chicago. This 'Paris-era' concerto was originally written for the famous violinist Samuel Dushkin. However, it was later mislaid, only to be rediscovered and premiered some 40 years later.
Josef Suk was a sound choice for the concerto’s second life; his 1973 recording with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (together with Martinù’s second, “American”, violin concerto) won great accolades, including the Grand Prix du disque de l’Academie Charles Cros. In the wake of the two violin concertos, Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra could be deemed the third part of a trilogy written in the post-war chapter of Martinù’s life. Suk’s legendary recordings, newly re-mastered, are released in the year marking the 80th birthday of the violinist and the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death.
October 2009
*****
“Suk embraces both the acerbic world of the First Concerto, and its more lyrical successor with deep-toned conviction. He's just as convincing on the viola in the more diffuse Rhapsody-Concerto.”
September 2009
“In these excellently remastered recordings… Suk is confirmed as a front runner still and his approach in No 2 makes fascinating listening when compared to Isabelle Faust's superb account. In the Rhapsody-Concerto, with even finer sound, Suk is very competitive compared to Matoušek's full-price version.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
