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Václav Neumann conducts Dvořák & Smetana

97832 - Václav Neumann conducts Dvořák & Smetana

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Václav Neumann was one of the most distinguished conductors of the so-called Eastern Bloc. The long-serving chief conductor of the legendary Czech Philharmonic was principally regarded as an accomplished advocate of the music of his homeland, which he interpreted with a strong sense of form, love of detail, and a vocal espressivo, eschewing any sentimentality. This is also evident in these live recordings made in Lucerne, now released for the first time. more

Antonín Dvořák | Bedřich Smetana

"The beauty of the orchestral sound, the emphasis on the melos [...], the variety of timbres, and the exemplary balance between registers make this a masterful performance." (Pizzicato)

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Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88, B. 163 (36:54) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Václav Neumann

I. Allegro con brio (09:46)
III. Allegretto grazioso – Coda. Molto vivace (06:22)
IV. Allegro ma non troppo (10:35)

Antonín Dvořák The Wild Dove, Op. 110, B. 198 (18:39) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Václav Neumann

Andante, marcia funebre – Allegro (07:14)
Molto vivace – Allegretto grazioso – Andante – Andante, Tempo I (11:25)

Bedřich Smetana Libuše, T. 107, JB 1:102 (08:49) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Václav Neumann

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Details

Václav Neumann conducts Dvořák & Smetana
Lucerne Festival "Historic Performances", Vol. XX
article number: 97.832
EAN barcode: 4022143978325
price group: BCA
release date: 6. September 2024
total time: 64 min.

Bonus Material

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Three live recordings made in Lucerne, now released for the first time, commemorate Václav Neumann, one of the most distinguished great conductors of the so-called Eastern Bloc. As chief conductor of the legendary Czech Philharmonic for many years, Neumann was principally regarded as an accomplished advocate of the music of his homeland, which he interpreted with strong sense of form, a love of detail, and a vocal espressivo, eschewing any sentimentality. 


"I'm quintessentially Czech," Václav Neumann once professed - a subtle indication that, even during the politically turbulent times of the Cold War, he could not imagine any other home than Prague. His Czech identity was also an artistic trademark in the international music world, especially during his tenure as chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic which he held from 1968 until 1990, establishing himself on countless concert tours as a cultural ambassador for his country. The impetus for his international career, however, came from the GDR, where Neumann joined Walter Felsenstein's Komische Oper in Berlin, later moving to Leipzig where he was appointed general music director and chief conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra - a post steeped in tradition, from which he resigned in 1968 in protest of the events of the "Prague Spring". 

In the summer of 1969, the Czech Philharmonic was the first orchestra from beyond the "Iron Curtain" to perform at the Lucerne Festival - naturally under Neumann's baton. Four further guest appearances followed between 1984 and 1990, including gripping interpretations of Dvořák's Eighth Symphony, his late tone poem The Wild Dove and the prelude to Smetana's opera Libuše. Neumann never lapses into national emphasis, but instead seeks to achieve a balance between richly nuanced lines - the trained violinist and violist spoke of a "singing orchestra" - strict form and precise realisation of the musical text. 

All three live recordings are first releases. The 32-page booklet in three languages contains a portrait of the conductor by Michael Struck-Schloen alongside previously unpublished photos from the festival archive. 

In cooperation with audite, Lucerne Festival presents the "Historic Performances" series featuring outstanding concert recordings of artists who have shaped the festival throughout its history. The aim of this CD edition is to rediscover treasures - most of which have not been released previously - from the first six decades of the festival, which was founded in 1938 with a special gala concert conducted by Arturo Toscanini. These recordings have been made available by the archives of SRF Swiss Radio and Television, which has broadcast the Lucerne concerts from the outset. Painstakingly remastered and supplemented with photos and materials from the Lucerne Festival archive, they represent a sonic history of the festival. 

Reviews

Audiophile Audition
Audiophile Audition | Sep 19, 2024 | Gary Lemco | September 19, 2024 | source: https://www.auda...

Pliant and nuanced, the Czech strings, timpani, and winds converge to weave a seductive tapestry in luscious sonorities. Neumann keeps the pulse moving without exaggerated sentimentality, allowing Dvorak’s melos a natural fount in the CPO.Mehr lesen

Aus urheberrechtlichen Gründen dürfen wir ihnen diese Rezension leider nicht zeigen!
Pliant and nuanced, the Czech strings, timpani, and winds converge to weave a seductive tapestry in luscious sonorities. Neumann keeps the pulse moving without exaggerated sentimentality, allowing Dvorak’s melos a natural fount in the CPO.

Kulturabdruck | 14. September 2024 | Dr. Thorsten Stegemann | September 14, 2024 | source: https://www.kult... Durch und durch Tscheche

Das Album besticht nicht nur musikalisch, sondern auch durch die herausragende Klangqualität der rund vierzig Jahre alten Aufnahmen, die mit Geschick und Feingefühl restauriert wurden.Mehr lesen

Aus urheberrechtlichen Gründen dürfen wir ihnen diese Rezension leider nicht zeigen!
Das Album besticht nicht nur musikalisch, sondern auch durch die herausragende Klangqualität der rund vierzig Jahre alten Aufnahmen, die mit Geschick und Feingefühl restauriert wurden.

www.pizzicato.lu | 06/09/2024 | Remy Franck | September 6, 2024 | source: https://www.pizz... Genuin tschechische Musik

Vaclav Neumann hatte ich Ende der Sechzigerjahre bei einem Konzert in Luxemburg kennen gelernt. Ich habe ihn als einen liebenswerten, bescheidenenMehr lesen

Vaclav Neumann hatte ich Ende der Sechzigerjahre bei einem Konzert in Luxemburg kennen gelernt. Ich habe ihn als einen liebenswerten, bescheidenen Mann in Erinnerung, der aus dem Orchester warme Farben und viel Cantando herausnahm. Diesen Eindruck vermittelt auch das vorliegende Album.

In der Interpretation der Achten Dvoraks verhindert Neumann, dass die Musik energetisiert wird und gibt die Partitur in einer bewundernswerten Gelassenheit wieder. Die Schönheit des Orchesterklangs, die Hervorhebung des Melos (der Gesänge und Gegengesänge), die Vielfalt der Klangfarben und die beispielhafte Ausgewogenheit zwischen den Registern machen diese Aufführung zu einer meisterhaften Interpretation.

Antonín Dvorak schrieb seine symphonische Dichtung Die Waldtaube im Jahr 1896. Sie ist inspiriert von dem gleichnamigen Gedicht aus Kyrice, einer Balladensammlung von Karel Jaromir Erben, und beschreibt die Geschichte einer Frau, die ihren Mann tötet, um einen anderen Mann zu heiraten. Kurz darauf sitzt eine Taube auf dem Grab seines Opfers und singt Tag für Tag ein trauriges Lied, das die Frau in den Selbstmord treibt.

Die Tondichtung ist sehr dramatisch und voller Leidenschaft, was in Vaclav Neumanns intensiver Interpretation sehr gut zum Ausdruck kommt. Er kann den großen dramaturgischen Bogen meisterhaft realisieren und dabei fesselnde Stimmungen schaffen.

Das Album schließt mit dem Vorspiel zu Bedrich Smetanas Oper Libuse, die sehr selten aufgeführt wird, weil sie keine wirkliche Handlung hat. Sie besteht aus drei Bildern aus dem Leben der mythischen Fürstin Libuse: der Erbstreit, die Hochzeit und das Orakel. Die Musik der Oper ist oft feierlich und glanzvoll, enthält aber auch zarte Passagen. Das resümiert die Ouvertüre sehr gut, die Vaclav Neumann spannungsvoll dirigiert.


English Translation:

I met Vaclav Neumann at a concert in Luxembourg in the late sixties. I remember him as an amiable, modest man who got warm colors and a lot of cantando out of the orchestra. The present album conveys this impression as well.

In his interpretation of Dvorak’s Eighth, Neumann avoids energizing the music and renders the score with admirable composure. The beauty of the orchestral sound, the emphasis on the melos (the chants and counter-chants), the variety of timbres, and the exemplary balance between registers make this a masterful performance.

Antonín Dvorak wrote his symphonic poem The Wood Dove in 1896, inspired by the poem of the same name from Kyrice, a collection of ballads by Karel Jaromir Erben, which describes the story of a woman who kills her husband in order to marry another man. Shortly afterwards, a dove sits on the victim’s grave and sings a sad song day after day, driving the woman to suicide.

The tone poem is very dramatic and full of passion, which is well expressed in Vaclav Neumann’s intense interpretation. He masterfully realizes the great dramatic arc and creates captivating moods.

The album closes with the prelude to Bedrich Smetana’s opera Libuse, which is very rarely performed because it has no real plot. It consists of three scenes from the life of the mythical princess Libuse: the inheritance dispute, the wedding and the oracle. The music of the opera is often solemn and glamorous, but it also contains tender passages. The overture, conducted by Vaclav Neumann, sums this up very well.
Vaclav Neumann hatte ich Ende der Sechzigerjahre bei einem Konzert in Luxemburg kennen gelernt. Ich habe ihn als einen liebenswerten, bescheidenen

Crescendo Magazine
Crescendo Magazine | Le 3 septembre 2024 | Pierre-Jean Tribot | September 3, 2024 | source: https://www.cres... Václav Neumann à Lucerne

le résultat musical est de très haut vol. [...] Tous les pupitres composent un univers sonore magique par la beauté des timbres et le style d’une direction qui s'envisage comme le peintre d’une nature gorgée de teintes et de saveurs poétiques et évocatrices.Mehr lesen

Aus urheberrechtlichen Gründen dürfen wir ihnen diese Rezension leider nicht zeigen!
le résultat musical est de très haut vol. [...] Tous les pupitres composent un univers sonore magique par la beauté des timbres et le style d’une direction qui s'envisage comme le peintre d’une nature gorgée de teintes et de saveurs poétiques et évocatrices.

Scherzo
Scherzo | 18/08/2024 | August 18, 2024 | source: https://scherzo.... El sello audite publica grabaciones inéditas de la Filarmónica Checa y Václav Neumann en Lucerna

El Festival de Lucerna, que arrancó el pasado 13 de agosto, lleva tiempoMehr lesen

Aus urheberrechtlichen Gründen dürfen wir ihnen diese Rezension leider nicht zeigen!
El Festival de Lucerna, que arrancó el pasado 13 de agosto, lleva tiempo

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Sep 24, 2024
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jpc-courier 10/2024: classical new release of the month
Sep 23, 2024
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Audiophile Audition
Though I have reviewed prior releases of performances by Czech conductor Václav...
Sep 16, 2024
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5/5 Noten - Václav Neumann conducts Dvořák & Smetana
Sep 16, 2024
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www.pizzicato.lu
Genuin tschechische Musik
Sep 16, 2024
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Kulturabdruck
Durch und durch Tscheche
Sep 6, 2024
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Newsletter on CD release to general mailing list
Sep 4, 2024
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Son: 8 Livret: 10 Répertoire: 10 Interprétation: 9 - Václav Neumann conducts Dvořák & Smetana
Sep 4, 2024
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Crescendo Magazine
Václav Neumann à Lucerne
Sep 1, 2024
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Note 1 music: new releases (3-2024)
Aug 23, 2024
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Dvořák's The Wild Dove, Op. 110 was added to Spotify's playlist "Classical New Releases - Spotify Picks" from 23rd until 30th August (#30/80)
Aug 19, 2024
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Scherzo
El sello audite publica grabaciones inéditas de la Filarmónica Checa y Václav Neumann en Lucerna
Aug 9, 2024
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Smetana's "Prelude" from Libuše, T. 107, JB 1:102 was added to Spotify's playlist "Classical New Releases - Spotify Picks" from 9th until 15th August (#12/72)
Jul 25, 2024
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Newsletter to media representatives (print and broadcast) nationally and internationally
Jul 11, 2024
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Newsletter on the availability of the new release to our distribution partners
Jul 31, 2024
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Dvořák's "I. Allegro con brio" from Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 was added to the Apple Music Playlist 'Die Spätromantiker' (#4/100)
Jul 26, 2024
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Dvořák's "I. Allegro con brio" from Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 was added to the Apple Music Playlist 'Klassische Motivation' (#3/100)
Jul 26, 2024
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Dvořák's "I. Allegro con brio" from Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 was added to Spotify's playlist "Classical New Releases - Spotify Picks" from 26th July until 2nd August (#10/74)

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