Composer: Antonín Dvořák
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Tomáš Netopil
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Pentatone
Catalogue: PTC5187221
Release: 2024
Size: 1.31 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Legends, Op. 59, B. 122
01. No. 1, Allegretto
02. No. 2, Molto moderato
03. No. 3, Allegro giusto
04. No. 4, Molto maestoso
05. No. 5, Allegro giusto
06. No. 6, Allegro con moto
07. No. 7, Allegretto grazioso
08. No. 8, Un poco Allegretto e grazioso
09. No. 9, Andante con moto
10. No. 10, Andante
Slavonic Rhapsodies, Op. 45, B. 86
11. No. 1, in D Major
12. No. 2, in G Minor
13. No. 3, in A-Flat Major
Dvorak’s Legends and Slavonic Rhapsodies, recorded by Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, Tomas Netopil, marks the orchestra’s fourth recording featuring Czech composers in 2024’s Year of Czech Music. Dvorak wrote his Slavonic Rhapsodies just before the Slavonic Dances that catapulted him to world fame, and they share their colourful orchestration and appealing folk dance melodies – even if the Rhapsodies have more expansive, ambitious forms. The Legends are at least as ingenious, with a smaller orchestra giving the pieces a more intimate, introspective quality. These lesser-known gems are now presented in a glorious idiomatic interpretation by the Czech Philharmonic, arguably the world’s best orchestra for this repertoire. The Czech Philharmonic is one of the world’s orchestral gems, recognised for its rich tradition with the Czech masters as well as European repertoire. Together with their chief conductor and artistic director Semyon Bychkov, they have so far recorded for PENTATONE Mahler’s First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (2022-2023), part of the complete Mahler cycle to be released by the label, as well as Smetana’s Ma vlast and Dvorak’s Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Symphonies (2024). The Orchestra is also featured on the albums Folk Songs (2023) and Czech Songs (2024) recorded by Magdalena Kozena and Sir Simon Rattle. Principal Guest Conductor Tomas Netopil makes his PENTATONE debut.