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Home > Catalogue > Bedrich Smetana Collection

Bedrich Smetana Collection

Composer Bedrich Smetana

Artist Various Artists
Format 8 CD
Cat. number 96909
EAN code 5028421969091
Release May 2023

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About this release

The most complete collection available of music by the father of Czech nationalism in music.
Má Vlast, The Bartered Bride and the String Quartet ‘From My Life’: all written within a decade of each other,
all so fundamental in their different genres in forming a Czech national identity in music that it can seem
incredible they were the work of a single composer.

Yet this was the task that Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) had set himself from early on – not only to become ‘a
Liszt in technique and a Mozart in composition’ but the voice of a new nation. Given the obstacles he faced, his
success in realising this ambition is all the more impressive. To begin with he had to overcome his father’s
antipathy to his chosen destiny as a composer; then the vicissitudes of poverty, and then, at the height of his
powers and renown, a succession of personal tragedies which left him deaf and mentally unstable; he died in
reduced circumstances, living with his daughter, and it took the following generation of Czech composers to
rehabilitate the hero who had lived in their midst.

To begin with, Smetana won a reputation as the life and soul of the party thanks not least to the kind of piano
miniatures which were published as his earliest surviving works. He sent one set to Liszt, who replied with
characteristic generosity, and the elder composer’s example, encouragement and friendship all became crucial to
Smetana as he spread his wings. Large-scale orchestral works soon followed in his late 20s, such as the powerful
if rambling Festive Symphony – here performed complete, a rarity in itself – and the G minor Piano Trio, written
as an outpouring of grief at the death of his daughter Bedřiška, and a powerful foreshadowing of later
masterpieces.

Finding recognition in his homeland hard to come by, he moved to Sweden, and it was only on his permanent
return home in the early 1860s that The Bartered Bride and then Má Vlast took shape, each through a complex
genesis outlined by a new booklet essay and appreciation of the composer by Peter Quantrill. In their final forms
they were acclaimed as the work of someone worthy to be hailed as a ‘Czech Beethoven’, for their heroic style,
their mastery of old forms with a distinctively Czech twist, and their celebration of the nation’s history and sense
of itself.

The performances here all won enthusiastic reviews on their original release; gathered together here, they make
an ideal introduction to Smetana’s world.
‘One of the most dramatic sets of the tone-poems that I have ever encountered.’ Rob Cowan, Gramophone,
September 2019

‘Wonderful conducting and playing of both familiar and unfamiliar Smetana.’ Fanfare, November 2008
(Orchestral works)

‘The Stamitz Quartet are one of the most impressive [Czech quartets]… Their performance of the E minor is on
the grandest scale.’ Gramophone, March 2005

- Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer born in Bohemia and later became a national symbol of Czech culture.
Smetana's musical style was influenced by Czech folk music, classical traditions and romanticism. He is best
known for his cycle of six symphonic poems called "Má Vlast" (My Homeland), which is considered to be the
cornerstone of Czech classical music. This cycle of works is based on Czech history and legends and reflects
Smetana's deep patriotism and love for his country. "The Moldau", the second piece from "Má Vlast", is one of
his most famous works and is one of the most frequently performed pieces of classical music in the world. This
composition portrays the flow of the Moldau River and is a masterpiece of tone painting.
- Smetana was also a prolific composer of operas, including "The Bartered Bride", which is considered to be one
of the greatest national operas in the world. This work, which premiered in 1866, blends elements of Czech folk
music with traditional operatic forms.
- This extensive collection contains the complete orchestral works, the two passionate and highly personal string
quartets, the dramatic Piano Trio, a generous selection of piano music, including the complete Czech Dances,
and the opera The Bartered Bride, sung in German.
- Performers include the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Theodore Kuchar (Classics Today writes:
“Performance: 9. Theodore Kuchar and his forces tackle Ma Vlast with plenty of enthusiasm and vigor; indeed,
from Sarka onward this is one of the best versions available.”), the Czech Stamic Quartet, Czech pianist Antonín
Kubálek, Roberto Plano, and the Staatskapelle Dresden/Otmar Suitner.
- A substantial and valuable Collection by a highly influential Czech composer who made significant
contributions to the classical music repertoire. Smetana is remembered as a passionate patriot who captured the
spirit of his country in his compositions and helped to establish a unique national identity through his music.
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Track list
Disk 1

1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast, JB 1:112: I. Vyšehrad
2. 2
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast, JB 1:112: II. Vltava (The Moldau)
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast, JB 1:112: III. Šarka
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast, JB 1:112: IV. From Bohemia’s Meadows and Forests
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast, JB 1:112: V. Tábor
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast, JB 1:112: VI. Blanik

Disk 2

1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: Wallenstein’s Camp, Symphonic Poem Op. 14
2. 2
Bedrich Smetana: Hakon Jarl, Symphonic Poem Op. 16
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: Richard III, Symphonic Poem Op. 11
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: Overture to “The Bartered Bride”, JB 1:100
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: Three Dances from “The Bartered Bride”, JB 1:100: I. Polka
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: Three Dances from “The Bartered Bride”, JB 1:100: II. Furiant
7. 7
 Bedrich Smetana: Three Dances from “The Bartered Bride”, JB 1:100: III. Skocna (Dance of the
Comedians)
8. 8
Bedrich Smetana: Doktor Faust Overture to the Puppet-play by Matej Kopecký, JB 1:85
9. 9
Bedrich Smetana: Venkovanka The Peasant Woman, Polka, JB 1:115
10. 10
Bedrich Smetana: Nasim Devam To our Girls, Polka, JB 1:86

Disk 3
1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: Festive Symphony in E Major, Op. 6: I. Allegro vivace
2. 2
Bedrich Smetana: Festive Symphony in E Major, Op. 6: II. Largo maestoso
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: Festive Symphony in E Major, Op. 6: III. Scherzo, allegro vivace
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: Festive Symphony in E Major, Op. 6: IV. Finale, allegro non troppo ma energico
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: Festive Overture in C Major
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: Festive Overture in D Major, Op. 4
7. 7
Bedrich Smetana: Prague Carnival Introduction & Polonaise
8. 8
Bedrich Smetana: March of the National Guard
9. 9
Bedrich Smetana: Shakespeare Festival March, Op. 20

Disk 4

1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor, JB1:105: I. Allegro vivo appassionato
2. 2
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor, JB1:105: II. Allegro moderato a la polka
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor, JB1:105: III. Largo sostenuto
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor, JB1:105: IV. Vivace
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 2 in D Minor, JB1:124: I. Allegro
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 2 in D Minor, JB1:124: II. Allegro moderato
7. 7
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 2 in D Minor, JB1:124: III. Allegro non più moderato
8. 8
Bedrich Smetana: String Quartet No. 2 in D Minor, JB1:124: IV. Finale. Presto
9. 9
Bedrich Smetana: Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15: I. Moderato assai
10. 10
Bedrich Smetana: Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15: II. Allegro, ma non agitato
11. 11
 Bedrich Smetana: Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15: III. Finale. Presto

Disk 5
1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: Andante in E-Flat Major, JB 1:62
2. 2
Bedrich Smetana: Pensée fugitive
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves, Op. 2: I. Prelude. Allegro
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves, Op. 2: II. Chanson. Moderato
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves, Op. 2: III. Vivace
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves, Op. 2: IV. Allegro commodo, sempre marcato
7. 7
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves, Op. 2 : V. Moderato con anima
8. 8
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves, Op. 2 : VI. Andante ma non troppo
9. 9
Bedrich Smetana: 3 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 3: I. To Robert Schumann
10. 10
Bedrich Smetana: 3 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 3: II. Wayfarer’s Song
11. 11
Bedrich Smetana: 3 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 3: III. It Boils and it Roars
12. 12
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 4: I. Prelude
13. 13
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 4: II. Idyll
14. 14
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 4: III. Memory
15. 15
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 4: IV. Persistent Endeavour
16. 16
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 5: I. Scherzo – Polka
17. 17
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 5: II. Melancholy
18. 18
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 5: III. Friendly Landscape
19. 19
Bedrich Smetana: 4 Sketches, Op. 5: IV. Rhapsody
20. 20
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: I. Allegretto ma non troppo in B-Flat Major
21. 21
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: II. Allegro in B Minor
22. 22
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: III. Toccatina
23. 23
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: IV. Album Leaf in G Major- Trio
24. 24
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: V. Lento in E-Flat Minor
25. 25
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: VI. Con moto in B-Flat Minor
 26. 26
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: VII. For Katerina Kolarova – Moderato
27. 27
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: VIII. For Elisabeth F. Thun – Allegro
28. 28
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: IX. For Josephine Finke – Agitato
29. 29
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: X. For Jean Kunz – Allegro
30. 30
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: XI. For Václav Ulwer – Grave
31. 31
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: XII. For Marie Proksch – Moderato
32. 32
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: XIII. Andante in F Minor
33. 33
Bedrich Smetana: Album Leaves: XIV. Romance in G Minor

Disk 6
1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances I, JB 1:107: I. Polka in F-Sharp Minor
2. 2
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances I, JB 1:107: II. Polka in A Minor
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances I, JB 1:107: III. Polka in F Major
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances I, JB 1:107: IV. Polka in B-Flat Major
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: I. Furiant
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: II. Slepicka (Little Hen)
7. 7
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: III. Oves (Grain Dance)
8. 8
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: IV. Medved (Bear Dance)
9. 9
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: V. Cibulicka (Little Onion)
10. 10
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: VI. Dupák (Stamping Dance)
11. 11
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: VII. Hulán (Lancer)
12. 12
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: VIII. Obkrocák (Stepping Dance)
13. 13
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: IX. Sousedská (Neighbour’s Dance)
14. 14
Bedrich Smetana: The Complete Czech Dances II, JB 1:114: X. Skocná (Hop Dance)

Disk 7

1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100: I. Ouvertüre
2. 2
 Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: II. Seht am Strauch die Knospen springen
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: III. Sag, mein liebes Herz
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: IV. Zum Tanze rufen sie mich heut
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: V. Gern ja will ich dir vertrauen
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: VI. Sage, was dich von Hause fort
7. 7
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: VII. Mit der Mutter sank zu Grabe
8. 8
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: VIII. Nun in Lust und Leide
9. 9
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: IX. Alles ist so gut wie richtig
10. 10
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: X. Freilich! Den Tobias Micha
11. 11
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: XI. Er wär’ gerne mit mir gekommen
12. 12
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: XII. Seht, da kommt sie wie gerufen
13. 13
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: XIII. Mit Hans bin ich vereint!
14. 14
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 1: XIV. Durch die reihen hin zu fliegen
15. 15
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: I. Wie schäumst du in den Krügen
16. 16
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: II. Furiant
17. 17
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: III. Teurer Sohn, sprach Mütterlein
18. 18
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: IV. Seid ihr nicht der Bräutigam
19. 19
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: V. Eine gibt es hier im Dorf

Disk 8
1. 1
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: VI. Komm, mein Söhnchen
2. 2
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: VII. Wer in Lieb entbrannt
3. 3
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: VIII. Gib die törichte Liebschaft auf
4. 4
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: IX. Armer Narr
5. 5
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: X. Es muß gelingen
6. 6
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 2: XI. Nicht zu hitzig
7. 7
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: I. O was ich mich betrübe!
8. 8
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: II. Marsch der Komödianten
 9. 9
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: III. Tanz und Produktion der Komödianten
10. 10
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: IV. Ei, ei, wie reizend!
11. 11
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: V. He, mein Teurer
12. 12
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: VI. Alles geht am Schnürchen
13. 13
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: VII. Ach, wie wird es mir ergehn
14. 14
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: VIII. Ha, das trifft wie ein Donnerschlag
15. 15
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: IX. Nein! Nein!
16. 16
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: X. Hab ich verdient so tiefe Schmach
17. 17
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XI. He, Wenzel!
18. 18
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XII. Noch ein Weilchen, Marie
19. 19
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XIII. Endlich allein!
20. 20
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XIV. Der Liebestraum war wunderschön
21. 21
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XV. So find ich dich
22. 22
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XVI. Ha, ha, ha, ha!
23. 23
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XVII. Mein lieber Schatz, nun aufgepaßt!
24. 24
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XVIII. He, Hans! Möchtest du dein Geld
25. 25
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XIX. Gesegnet, wer liebt und auch vertraut
26. 26
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XX. Kommen wir gerne, so kommen wir gleich
27. 27
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XXI. Was seh ich
28. 28
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XXII. Wer hätte das von ihm gedacht
29. 29
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XXIII. Der Bär ist los!
30. 30
Bedrich Smetana: Die Verkaufte Braut, JB 1:100, Pt. 3: XXIV. So ist’s recht, es freut uns alle
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