Ma Vlast
Posted by: Steve2 on 07 July 2012
In a moment of madness I bought Nikolaus Harnoncourt's RCA version of the above recorded in 2001. I have listened to it a couple of times now and it is like wading through treacle. It is so lifeless and pedestrian. Allowing for the fact that my soon to be replaced CD3 is a weak link I cannot believe that the recording is going to improve sufficiently when my CDS3 arrives. Can anyone suggest a version of this beautiful piece of music that will not make me lose the will to live.
Yours in anticipation
SteveT
Czech Philharmonic, on [Czech] Supraphon. Conducted by Karel Ancerl. Well that is my favourite, but there are others
Some others: In mono comes the estimable performance from Vaclav Tallich, on the same label and with the same orchestra.
Then consider [on DG] the superb recording of the Boston Symphony Orchestra with Rafal Kubelik. This is more beautiful and poetic than either of the Czech performances mentioned and has a wonderfully sonorous recording of the Bostn orchestra.
For me the strength and almost "classical style" of Ancerl takes the crwon for me, and the recording is very true, but without the super-charged recording of the bass drum in the rappids of Vltava for example.
Tallich brings a wealth of musical experience, and the orchestra plays with a style that can really only happen when the chief conductor of then more than 50 years is at the helm. I would never want to part with this, even if the recording is slightly muddled in the dense music.
For me the most dispensible would be Kubelik, as it lacks the strength and determination of Ancerl in my view. Indeed, I parted with it some time ago, but I mention it as every single person I have shown it to whilst I had it prefered it to Ancerl.
There are other great performances, and no doubt you will have these posted about soon!
ATB from George
Bless you George!
You have saved me purchasing another turkey. Thanks for your insight and time.
SteveT
Hi Steve
I have a CD copy of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Rafael Kubelik, on Mercury Living Presence, recorded in Orchestra Hall Chicago in 1952.
And with a single U-47 microphone suspended 25 feet from the podium in glorious mono (so it may get a tick in the box from George for that reason!!) and with no compression.
It sounds good to me, but I have no other version to compare it with.
Let's play it on your CDS3 when we next hook up.
Cheers
David
David!
Sounds like a wonderful plan. 5 questions complete, 6 to go ........
SteveT
Steve - just realised I have the BSO Kubelik on DG as well, but on LP. Might be fun to compare.
Meanwhile why don't you play "Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!" by Focus while you contemplate your last six?
Cheers
D
The Tallich/Czech Phil on Supraphon from 1939 is not a first choice recording, but is a must-hear. Recorded in Prague just after the Nazi takeover, the audience includes high ranking Nazis. There's applause after every movement, but at the end the audience goes wild and bursts into the Czech National Anthem. It's a genuine lump-in-throat moment.
The recording's as rough as a badger's @rse, but understandably so as it was sourced from a live recording made BT Swedish Radio in Oslo!
I agree with this! There's a UTube video of part of the concert and it was obviously quite an event!
Chris
Beautiful! Even through my iMac this sounds more engaging than my CD version through my system. Thank you for bringing this version to my attention.
SteveT