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Friday, June 29, 2018

Vítězslav Novák - Lady Godiva; etc. (Libor Pešek)


Information

Composer: Vítězslav Novák
  1. Overture to the play Lady Godiva, Op. 41
  2. Toman and the Wood Nymph, Op. 40: Allegro fantastico - Allegro appassionato -
  3. Toman and the Wood Nymph, Op. 40: Tempo del principio - Allegro appassionato - Agitato -
  4. Toman and the Wood Nymph, Op. 40: Tempo del principio - Molto appassionato, ma non troppo allegro
  5. De profundis, Op. 67: Largo lugubre  - Appassionato doloroso - Tempo del principio
  6. De profundis, Op. 67: Meno [largo], molto tranquillo -
  7. De profundis, Op. 67: Grandioso

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Libor Pešek, conductor

Date: 2000
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%209821

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Víteslav Novák was a member of the talented “in-between” generation of Czech composers, making his name at the turn of the 20th century, after Smetana and Dvorák, but before Martinu and Janácek. By all accounts a somewhat forbidding figure as well as a highly respected teacher, his music shows not a trace of academicism or pedantry. Indeed, he’s one of the very few composers of his era with a genuine sense of humor (check out his delicious ballet Nikotina, on Supraphon, if you want proof), joining contemporaries Gustav Mahler and Ernst von Dohnányi in this select company.

There’s not much to laugh about in the three pieces presented here, though. Lady Godiva is a straightforward tone poem illustrating the battle between sexes as represented in two contrasting themes, one rigid and stern, the other feminine and rhapsodic. Toman and the Wood Nymph, which has seen a couple of previous recordings on Supraphon, is a lovely nature poem inspired by what is basically a universal myth: call them Sirens, Rusalkas, Ondines, the plot always depicts the erotic power of womanhood to lure a man, unknowing, to (a pretty good-feeling) death. De profundis is another matter entirely: an anguished protest (for large orchestra and organ) against the German occupation of Novák’s Czech homeland during the Second World War. Both its composition and first performance were an act of musical bravery. As might be expected from conductor Libor Pešek, who knows all this music cold, the performances are first rate, the recording top drawer. Essential, late Romantic stuff.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: *****/ SOUND: *****
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2000/nov00/Novak.htm
https://www.amazon.com/Novak-Godiva-Toman-Nymph-Profundis/dp/B0011ADABO

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Vítězslav Novák (5 December 1870 – 18 July 1949) was a Czech composer and pedagogue. Novak studied at the Prague Conservatory where he studied piano and attended Antonín Dvořák's masterclasses in composition. Stylistically, Novak was part of the neoromantic tradition, and his music has been occasionally considered an early example of Czech modernism. Novák's music nevertheless retained some elements of the late-Romantic style, with influence of French impressionism. Czechoslovak independence in 1918 and the Nazi occupation during WWII also sparked several patriotic compositions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADt%C4%9Bzslav_Nov%C3%A1k

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Libor Pešek (born 22 June 1933 in Prague) is a Czech conductor. Pešek studied conducting, piano, cello and trombone at the Academy of Musical Arts in Prague, with Václav Smetáček and Karel Ančerl among his teachers. He was conductor-in-residence of the Czech Philharmonic (1982-1990), music director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (1987-1998), and is the current chief conductor of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (2007-). Pešek is best known for his interpretations of Czech music, and has been a champion of lesser known Czech composers, particularly Josef Suk and Vítězslav Novák.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libor_Pe%C5%A1ek

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5 comments:

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  2. The links appear to be dead, can you please re-post? Thank you.

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  4. Will you reup, please? Thanks in advance!

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  5. Choose one link, copy and paste it to your browser's address bar, wait a few seconds (you may need to click 'Continue' first), then click 'Free Access with Ads' / 'Get link'. Complete the steps / captchas if require.
    If you are asked to download or install anything, IGNORE, only download from file hosting site (mega.nz).
    If MEGA shows 'Bandwidth Limit Exceeded' message, try to create a free account.

    https://link-target.net/610926/novak-lady-godiva
    or
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