This page lists all recordings of Toccata & due canzoni, H. 311, by Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959) on CD. Generally, more recent CDs are listed first, but with priority given to items that are in stock. |
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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Martinu - Violin Concerto No. 2
Isabelle Faust (violin) & Cedric Tiberghien (piano) The Prague Philharmonia, Jirí Belohlávek Long overshadowed by the reputation of his
Bohemian compatriots Smetana, Dvorák and Janácek,
Bohuslav Martinu is at last enjoying his fair share of
the limelight.The three works presented on this
recording display the Czech composer's endless
creativity within the framework of a vivid concertante
language. Isabelle Faust, Cédric Tiberghien & Jiri
Belohlavek renew the succesful partnerships that brought us superb recordings of Dvorak and Brahms.
Gramophone Magazine gave Isabelle Faust its Young Artist of the Year Award for her first recording of
sonatas by Béla Bartók, in 1997. Since then she has appeared with all the major orchestras.
Cedric Tiberghien's international career took off as he became a BBC New Generation Artist. For harmonia
mundi, he has recorded four recitals, and more recently Brahms' Concerto No. 1 with the BBC Symphony
Orchestra, conducted by Jirí Belohlávek. “Isabelle Faust is a lyrical soloist, and also finds plenty of energy to convey the rhythmic play of the finale. The other concertante work here is for piano, and Cédric Tiberghien is receptive to its neo-Baroque sensibility.
The Prague Philharmonia under Jirí Belohlávek provides idiomatic support, and the strings shine in the one other work here, the short Serenáda No 2 from Martinu's playful Paris years.” The Telegraph, 7th June 2008 “Martinu's Second Violin Concerto is one of his greatest works in the genre. From her very first entry, Isabelle Faust shows a strong feeling for the work's dramatic ebb and flow, and in the supremely beautiful slow movement achieves heights of eloquence. Belohlávek provides magnificently flexible accompaniment and a clear vision of the work's broadly developed structure.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2008 ***** “… this brilliant new account of the Second Concerto (1943), played with verve and a real feeling for the idiom by Isabelle Faust. … her sweet, precise tones allows Martinu's angular lyricism… open out for maximum appeal.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2008 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Martinu - Sinfonietta Giocosa
Claire Désert & Lidija Bizjak (pianos) Orchestre de Picardie, Pascal Verrot Another anniversary disc, this time for the 50th anniversary of Martinu's death.The musical language of the Bohemian composer is spontaneous and colourful with the jazz influences of his life in exile in France and the United States as well as reminiscences of Classicism. “…fine sound, and splendidly light and airy accounts of the Jazz Suite (1928) and Sinfonietta giocosa (1940) with Claire Désert superb as the latter's soloist. …Verrot's performance is light and full of movement…” Gramophone Magazine, December 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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| |  | Martinu - La Jolla, Toccata & Concerto Grosso
Josef Hála, Petr Jiríkovský (piano) Prague Chamber Orchestra, Ondrej Kukal The “American” Martinu brilliantly interpreted by the Prague Chamber Orchestra. The compositions by Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959) presented on this CD originated between 1937 and 1950. Although Concerto grosso was written in Paris (1937), all of them were premiered in the United States, where the composer fled to escape the war. The extraordinary success of the Boston premiere of Concerto grosso opened the doors for the author and brought him further commissions and offers. Here Martinu was inspired by Baroque musical forms and techniques, while Sinfonietta La Jolla can be considered his farewell to Neo-Classicism. The common denominator of the three pieces is the use of piano (two in the case of Concerto grosso) in the role of an orchestral rather than concertante instrument. The repertoire of the Prague Chamber Orchestra ranges from Baroque to contemporary music. Its vast experience with music of earlier periods makes it an ideal interpreter of this Martinu selection. The presence of two virtuoso pianists (Hála was a long-time co-player of Josef Suk, Jiríkovský has made recordings with Pavel Šporcl), as well as the seasoned conductor and composer Ondrej Kukal, adds to the splendour of this recording. | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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