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Bedřich Smetana at 200
Probably the most widely-performed of these are Má vlast ('My Fatherland'), a cycle of tone-poems depicting scenes from the countryside and folklore of Bohemia. The second of these, Vltava (often known by its German name, Die Moldau), traces the course of the river from its twin sources via meadows and rapids down to Prague (passing the Vyšehrad castle on its banks). It is often performed by itself and has remained a popular favourite with audiences since Smetana's time.
Prodaná nevěsta ('The Bartered Bride') is a comic opera set in rural Bohemia, with a heartwarming plot that sees young lovers triumph over the schemes and plots of both their domineering parents and a local marriage broker; it draws heavily on Czech folksong as part of evoking the scenes and landscapes in which it is set. Again, one section (the lively overture) has entered the concert-hall as a piece in its own right.
Among Smetana's other acclaimed works are other tone poems (among them the Shakespeare-inspired Richard III and Nordic Hakon Jarl), a pair of string quartets recently given an absolutely spellbinding new recording by the Pavel Haas Quartet, the opera Dalibor (the tale of a fifteenth-century knight); and a wealth of chamber and solo piano music. We've listed some of the best of these recordings in this article.
And don't miss our playlist of tracks from the recordings below, over on the Presto streaming service!
Bedřich Smetana at 200
Curated by David Smith
A selection of some of the best recordings of music by the great Czech Romantic composer - best known for his stirring pictorial tone poem 'Má vlast' and opera 'The Bartered Bride'. 2 hours 46 minutes
Bedřich Smetana at 200 - a selection of great recordings of his music
'It all makes for a satisfying listen, and one very true to Bělohlávek: not a fireworks display but a showcase for sincere, thoughtful and polished musicianship. An appropriate release to be remembered by.' (Gramophone)
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'If anything, the playing, especially from the exquisite woodwind, has become ever more refined; the sheer sonic beauty of this performance could hardly be surpassed...I doubt if any other orchestra in the world could play this so naturally and so movingly.' (The Arts Desk on a live performance shortly before this recording was made).
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Smetana: Má Vlast, Richard III, Wallenstein's Camp & other orchestral works
Rafael Kubelík, James Levine
'Kubelik's 1971 recording presents a Boston Symphony flush with the music's Czech spirit, and their performance pretty much clears the boards when it comes to virtuosity (especially the chill-inducing rendition of Šárka).' (Classics Today).
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
'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!' (Gramophone Classical Music Guide)
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Smetana: The Bartered Bride
Gabriela Beňačková (Mařenka), Peter Dvorský (Jenik), Richard Novak (Kecal), Jaroslav Horáček (Micha), Marie Mrázová (Háta), Miroslav Kopp (Vašek), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra & Prague Philharmonic Choir, Zdeněk Košler
'It features the astonishing Gabriela Beňačková as a lyrical, vulnerable Mařenka. Peter Dvorský is an outstanding Jenik, while Richard Novak's Kecal is subtler and more humane than most. Zdeněk Košler, conducting the Czech Philharmonic, gets the score's tricky emotional balance just right.' (The Guardian)
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Smetana: The Bartered Bride (sung in English)
Susan Gritton (Mařenka), Yvette Bonner (Esmeralda), Yvonne Howard (Ludmila), Diana Montague (Háta), Paul Charles Clarke (Jeník), Robin Leggate (Ringmaster), Timothy Robinson (Vašek), Neal Davies (Krušina), Geoffrey Moses (Mícha), Peter Rose (Kecal) & Kit Hesketh-Harvey (Indian), Philharmonia Orchestra, The Royal Opera Chorus, Charles Mackerras
'What makes this version so successful? The brilliant conducting of Sir Charles Mackerras, of course, plus the scintillating playing of the Philharmonia; an exceptionally strong team of soloists, too.' (Gramophone Classical Music Guide)
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Smetana: Dalibor
Ivan Kusnjer (King Vladislav), Richard Samek (Dalibor, a Knight), Aleš Vorácek (Vitek), Dana Burašová (Milada), Alžbeta Polácková (Jitka), Jan Stava (Benes), Svatopluk Sem (Budivoj); BBC Symphony Orchestra & BBC Singers, Jiří Bělohlávek
'The cast is thrillingly led by the bright star of a Dalibor...[Samek] looks set to become the most complete lyric-heroic Czech tenor for decades...Above all, this is Belohlavek’s triumph. Nobody knows better how to layer Smetana’s musical building blocks into an idiomatic, coherent edifice.' (Opera)
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC
'The PHQ understand absolutely the plasticity of Smetana’s vision and convey it unerringly, unshrinkingly – and in some ways even more convincingly than the Talich, which is saying something.' (Gramophone)
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
'The present incarnation of the Talich Quartet maintains its sterling 50-year reputation. Their way with Smetana is poised rather than hyper-dramatic, andthey make the most of Fibich's elegantly understated First Quartet.' (BBC Music Magazine)
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
'Their performance of the Smetana is very fine indeed...wonderfully expressive...right from the opening violin solo to the relentless intensity of the finale.' (The Guardian)
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
'The first has a musing, reflective quality captured beautifully by Ohlsson, and the joyous effervescence of the right hand figuration in the second is suitably dazzling...Ohlsson’s performances are consistently attractive…this beautifully recorded issue will certainly not disappoint.' (BBC Music Magazine)
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'As an introduction to the chamber music of what was once Czechoslovakia or Bohemia - or whatever nomenclature one might choose – this disc would be difficult to better...The Smetana pieces which conclude the programme are each delightful.' (MusicWeb International)
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC
David Smith - Head of Digital
