Dvorak: Prague Waltzes, B99 (Pražské valčíky)

Conductor and cellist, Marek Stryncl formed Musica Florea in 1992. Since then they have explored the Czech Baroque repertoire, with ventures into Italian and French music. Their aim is always to present the composer by using performance practice current at the time of composition.

Over the years, Musica Florea have recorded mainly with Supraphon, and notably, in 2003, with Magdalena Kozena in a programme of Arias from cantatas and oratorios by J S Bach for DG.

During 2004, Marek Stryncl and Musica Florea began to explore the music of Dvorak. Czech label, Arta, now offer this World Premiere Recording of his Symphonies No's 7 and 8, plus several shorter pieces, performed on instruments of the time in which Dvorak composed these works.

Collectors and admirers of Dvořák’s music bearing the hallmark of the Czech performance tradition can now add another comprehensive album to put alongside the previous complete Supraphon CDs mapping his chamber (SU38152, SU39212), piano (SU40182) and symphonic works (SU40902). The acclaimed recording of the symphonies, conducted by Václav Neumann, is now followed by Supraphon’s 8-CD box set featuring Dvořák’s orchestral pieces and concertos. In addition to the celebrated Slavonic Dances, it contains a number of rarely recorded symphonic works (the Hussite Overture, My Home, A Hero’s Song), as well as splendid compositions for chamber and string orchestras. Besides recordings made under the baton of Neumann, it provides scope to other great Dvořák conductors – Mackerras, Bělohlávek and the rising star Jakub Hrůša. The set of orchestral works is rounded off by recordings of concertos, ranging from the virtually unknown Cello Concerto in A major, written by the young Dvořák, to the most frequently performed, the Cello Concerto in B minor. Supraphon has again carefully put together top-quality and time-honoured recordings of works performed by world-renowned soloists.