Czech Philharmonic & Semyon Bychkov - Smetana: Má Vlast (2024)
WEB FLAC (tracks) - 332 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 188 Mb | 01:21:47
Classical | Label: Pentatone
WEB FLAC (tracks) - 332 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 188 Mb | 01:21:47
Classical | Label: Pentatone
The Czech Philharmonic and its Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov present a new recording of Bedřich Smetana’s masterpiece Má vlast (My Homeland). The album celebrates both the bicentenary of Smetana’s birth and, the start of 2024’s Year of Czech Music which has been celebrated every ten years since Smetana’s 100th anniversary in 1924. Má vlast (1874-1878) is a potent symbol of the Czech Republic’s turbulent political history and has played an important role in the Czech national movement. Contemplating the landscape, history, and legends of Bohemia, Má vlast is best known for its world-famous Moldau melody. For Bychkov, who was born in Russia before emigrating to the United States, and now lives in France, the question of ‘the homeland’ is particularly poignant – how to take pride in the best of its heritage, while also coming to terms with its darker pages. For the Orchestra to revisit this seminal piece with Bychkov, with whom it has developed such a close working relationship over the past few years, makes the recording all the more personal and topical.