Kabeláč M. (1908-1979) Symphonies No.1-8 (Complete) / PRSO / M.Ivanovič (4CD)

CD 1

Miloslav Kabeláč (1908-1979) - Symphony No. 1 in D for Strings and Percussions, Op. 11

1. Lento grave - Allegro 13:36

2. Largo - Appassionato - Tempo I. 10:39

3. Allegro 09:13

Miloslav Kabeláč - Symphony No. 2 in C for Large Orchestra, Op. 15

4. Molto maestoso - Risoluto 14:09

5. Lento - Appassionato 09:01

6. Allegro non troppo - Marciale 14:12

CD 2

Miloslav Kabeláč - Symphony No. 3 in F for Organ, Brasses and Timpani, Op. 33

1. Andante patetico 06:16

2. Lento, molto tranquillo 05:08

3. Allegro feroce 04:46

4. Maestoso 05:01

Miloslav Kabeláč - Symphony No. 4 in A "Camerata", Op. 36

5. Grave 07:01

6. Presto 04:23

7. Lento 08:01

8. Allegro 06:45

CD 3

Miloslav Kabeláč - Symphony No. 5 in B flat minor "Drammatica" for Soprano without Text and Orchestra, Op. 41

1. Andante patetico - Allegro 12:04

2. Presto 07:32

3. Adagio 07:46

4. Andante - Allegro 10:57

Miloslav Kabeláč - Symphony No. 6 "Concertante", for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 44

5. Feroce 13:08

6. Lento 07:24

7. Presto 10:03

CD 4

Miloslav Kabeláč - Symphony No. 7 for Orchestra and Reciter, Op. 52

1. Eternity 07:21

2. Human (An Open Book) 09:36

3. Eternity (New Earth) 05:40

Miloslav Kabeláč - Symphony No. 8 "Antiphons", for Soprano, Mixed Choir, Percussions and Organ, on the Words from the Bible, Op. 54

4. 1st Movement 04:51

5. Intermezzo A 00:42

6. 2nd Movement 04:35

7. Intermezzo B 00:40

8. 3rd Movement 06:02

9. Intermezzo C 00:47

10. 4th Movement 05:17

11. Intermezzo D 00:40

12. 5th Movement 04:53

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Pavla Vykopalová - soprano, Lucie Silkenová - soprano, Karel Dohnal - clarinet, and others, conductor - Marko Ivanović

Miloslav Kabeláč completed the first of his eight symphonies in Prague in early 1942, just a few months before Bohuslav Martinů, in the USA, would plunge into his Symphony No. 1, for Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Kabeláč was afflicted badly by the consequences of the Nazi occupation: owing to his refusal to divorce his Jewish wife, he lost his job at the radio, his music was banned, and his life was in permanent danger. This atmosphere of gloom is duly reflected in his Symphony No. 1. The euphoria following the end of World War II was very short-lived, as two and a half years later a similarly oppressive dictatorship, this time Communist, commenced. Kabeláč composed each of his symphonies for different instrumentation, repeatedly drawing inspiration from Biblical themes. Most of the pieces were premiered by the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Karel Ančerl, an enthusiastic champion of Kabeláč's music worldwide. The final symphony, "Antiphones", was written specially for a concert at the Saint Paul's Church in Strasbourg, and the superlative ensemble Les Percussions de Strasbourg, for whom Kabeláč created the famous cycle Eight Inventions, yet its premiere in June 1971 within a "Hommage ? Miloslav Kabeláč" concert featuring his music exclusively, took place without the composer's presence, as he had not received a permit to travel to the West ... Alongside Bohuslav Martinů, Miloslav Kabeláč was unquestionably the greatest Czech symphonist of the 20th century. The first complete recording of his symphonies, made by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marko Ivanović, affords the listener the opportunity to revel in the sheer depth of Kabeláč's symphonic oeuvre.

The first complete recording of Miloslav Kabeláč's symphonies. A gateway to new musical landscapes.

(Supraphon 2016)