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| Bohuslav Matousek performs Czech Rhapsody For Violin And Piano & other works. Christopher Hogwood conducts the Czech Phil. Orch. |
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| 1 Concerto da camera for violin, piano, percussion & strings, H. 285: Moderato, poco allegro |
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| 2 Concerto da camera for violin, piano, percussion & strings, H. 285: Adagio |
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| 3 Concerto da camera for violin, piano, percussion & strings, H. 285: Poco allegro |
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| 4 Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra, H. 342: Poco allegro |
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| 5 Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra, H. 342: Adagio |
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| 6 Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra, H. 342: Allegro |
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| 7 Czech Rhapsody for violin & piano, H. 307 |
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Album Review
In the second of four Hyperion discs dedicated to the works for violin and orchestra by Czech-French-American-Swiss composer Bohuslav Martinu, violinist Bohuslav Matoušek with Christopher Hogwood and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra join together two of the composer's typically atypical works: the Concerto da camera for violin with string orchestra, piano and percussion and the Concerto for violin and piano with orchestra. The former, written in Massachusetts in the summer of 1941 for Paul Sacher and his Basel Chamber Orchestra, is a kind of latter-day concerto grosso with the piano and percussion serving as a 20th century continuo group. The later, written in the winter of 1952 -- 1953 for the husband-and-wife violin-and-piano duo of Benno and Sylvia Rabinof of San Antonio, is a true double concerto with the soloists as full partners in the proceedings.
As in the previous volume in this series, violinist Matoušek performs with a wiry tone, a sweet vibrato and the unshakeable conviction that this is first class music, conductor Hogwood leads with a fluent technique, an agile sense of tempo and a keen feeling for color, and the Czech Philharmonic plays with an effortless assurance that bespeaks long familiarity with and deep affection for the music. Joined by light-fingered pianist Karel Kosárek in the Double Concerto, the performances here are easily in the same league as the classic Josef Suk's Supraphone recordings of the 60s. With the addition of Jiri Teml's skillful arrangement of Martinu's hopeful and exhilarating Czech Rhapsody as a ten minute encore, this disc will be sure to please those who already know the composer -- and even those who don't.
Recorded in Dvorák Hall in Prague, Hyperion's digital sound is as clear and vivid as always, but also warmer and lusher then usual.
~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
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• Biography
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Other albums by: Bohuslav Matousek |
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