BEDŘICH SMETANA (1824-1884)

Orchestral Works, Volume 1

 

Richard III

Wallenstein’s Camp

Hakon Jarl

Prague Carnival

The Peasant Woman

Festive Overture

March for the Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare Fanfares

The Fisherman

 

BBC Philharmonic / Gianandrea Noseda

 

This recording features symphonic poems that preceded the composition of Smetana’s now iconic symphonic cycle Má vlast. Although Má vlast has always overshadowed his other orchestral music, Smetana developed a symphonic style which made a fundamental contribution to the identity of Czech national music. 

 

The three symphonic poems from Smetana’s ‘Swedish period’, Richard III, Wallenstein’s Camp and Hakon Jarl, are now regularly performed in concert halls; however, the remainder of the disc presents lesser-known repertoire, mainly composed along Lisztian lines. 

 

The genre of the symphonic poem was very important to Smetana and it was not long after his ‘Swedish period’ that nationalism gradually came to prominence in his music, especially once he had returned to his native land. The other works on the disc demonstrate this nationalistic turn, and include Prague Carnival, one of his most fascinating works. Due to its ‘cacophony’ it was not popular on its initial performances; yet it is in fact one of Smetana’s most imaginative, if challenging scores. 

 

Masterfully performed by Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic, these works provide an important introduction to Smetana‘s orchestral output and confirm Smetana’s status as one of the greatest Czech composers of the nineteenth century. 

 

Reviews of recent releases:

Noseda conducts the BBC Philharmonic orchestra in scintillating, compellingly atmospheric, deeply considered and richly coloured performances.

The Sunday Times

 

The orchestra has developed beautifully under Noseda… A superlative performance.

The Independent on Sunday

 

Chandos CHAN10413