“This is a superb disc. There have been distinguished collections of Smetana's symphonic poems… but none quite to compare with this in excitement, richness of detail and, in the case of Wallenstein's Camp, sonic spectacle - how well Smetana writes for the brass! Gianandrea Noseda draws wonderfully characterful and spontaneous playing from the BBC Philharmonic, and the Chandos engineers surpass themselves with the realistic vividness of the sound and the naturalness of the balance. Not to be missed.” Gramophone Magazine, November 2007
“Noseda conducts the BBC Philharmonic orchestra in scintillating, compellingly atmospheric, deeply considered and richly coloured performances” Sunday Times
“This is a superb disc. There have been distinguished collections of Smetana's symphonic poems but none quite to compare with this in excitement, richness of detail and, in the case of Wallenstein's Camp, sonic spectacle – how well Smetana writes for the brass! Indeed this, RichardIII and especially Hakon Jarl emerge afresh as symphonic poems every bit the equal of those of Liszt. The early Jubel-Overture (1848) with its thundering, frantic opening timpani and energetic folksy flavour is a real find. So, too, is the beautiful watery tableau The Fisherman, which has a Wagnerian evocation gently reminding one of the moonlight sequence in 'Vltava'.
But the key works are the first three mentioned above, Wallenstein's Camp full of vivid military invention, Richard III with its atmospheric, doom-laden portrait, including a memorable dominating theme, gently lurching to represent the king's gait. The orchestration is highly evocative, as it is in the even more ambitiously dramatic Hakon Jarl. Here the central lyrical section with its falling scalic main theme, introduced by harp and bass clarinet, is all but Tchaikovskian and leads to a superb climax. The Shakespeare March closes the programme boisterously.
Gianandrea Noseda draws wonderfully characterful and spontaneous playing from the BBC Philharmonic, and the Chandos engineers surpass themselves with the realistic vividness of the sound and the naturalness of the balance.
Not to be missed.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010
“This is simply the finest compilation of Smetana's colourful symphonic poems ever put on disc” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition
Gramophone Magazine
