Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Mahler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Peter Schubert
Performer: Maria Tauberova
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Karel Šejna
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Supraphon
Catalogue: SU40812
Release: 2012
Size: 349 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro,
01. Ouverture
Mozart: Symphony No. 38 in D-Sharp Major
02. I. Adagio – Allegro
03. II. Andante
04. III. Finale – Presto
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito
05. Overture
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 Op. 68
06. I. Allegro ma non troppo – Awakening of Cheerful Feelings upon Arrival in the Country
07. II. Andante molto mosso – Scene at the Brook
08. III. Allegro – Merry Gathering of Country Folk (attaca)
09. IV. Allegro – Thunderstorm
10. V. Allegretto – Shepherds´ Song – Happy and Thankful Feelings After the Storm
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B-Sharp Minor
11. I. Allegro moderato
12. II. Andante con moto
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G-Sharp Major
13. I. Bedächtig – Nicht eilen (Moderately, Not Rushed)
14. II. In gemächlicher Bewegung – Ohne Hast (Leisurely Moving – Without Haste)
15. III. Ruhevoll – Poco adagio (peacefully – somewhat slowly)
16. V. Sehr behaglich – Wir geniessen die Himmlischen Freuden (very comfortably)
Rarely mentioned in the same breath as his illustrious colleagues Talich, Kubelík and Ančerl, Karel Šejna (1896-1982) was perennially second-in-command, yet despite failing to receive the credit he deserves he too played a crucial role in shaping the history of the Czech Philharmonic. Initially solo double-bass of the orchestra, he began conducting upon Václav Talich’s request and in 1939 was officially named its second conductor. And he also remained deputy after the departure of Talich, who was replaced by Rafael Kubelík, as well as after Kubelík’s emigration, when Karel Ančerl was appointed (originally against the orchestra members’ will) to the vacant post of chief conductor. Consequently, still playing “second fiddle”, Šejna went on to conduct dozens of concerts and make numerous recordings, which today rank among the finest in the Supraphon archives. Period critics branded him a flexible and vivid conductor who always required an understanding of the style and consistently worked with detail. In 1972, Šejna rounded off a half-century of work for the Czech Philharmonic with Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. Šejna’s sensitively remastered recordings from 1950-1962, from the bracing Mozart played “with a light hand” to Mahler’s fourth, are now released by Supraphon for the first time on CD.