Smetana Ma Vlast Symphonieorchester des Bayerische Rundfunks Rafael Kubelik DVD

Description: Bedrich Smetana Ma Vlast My Fatherland Cycle of symphonic poems. The cycle ma vlast is Smetana's glorious declaration of his love for his homeland. Who could be better qualified to conduct this icon of Czech national music than Raphael Kubelik? Few conductors have taken as keen and interest in this work or been more closely identified with its contents. We hear it performed here with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, which Kubelik conducted for nearly two decades, a period described by Joachim Kaiser as the conductor's "Golden Age". REVIEWS Splendid, cannot be bettered Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 October 2008 First, being the only DVD of Smetana's M Vlast I know, let me tell you that this is excellent music making. Rafael Kubelik, for me, is the master of this work. He shows an insight and enthusiasm for this work, you'll probably won't experience anywhere else. Some of this music is so well-known its seems impossible to find or hear new things in it, for example in the description of the Moldau river. But Kubelik and his fine orchestra gives you so much warmth and detail many other readings of this work don't give. For example: if you've heard Harnoncourt's reading of the Moldau you don't hear a mighty river and all the things that happen along its way but a slow mudstream littered with dirt. This DVD. On the plus side: excellent committed performance. Beautifully shaped stream of music. Everything is on it's place. The Bavarian orchestra plays as great as a Czech, they're really inside this music. On the down side: no state-of-the-art camera work, so-so recording (rather too warm to my ears), an orchestra (1984) with very few woman players. Even one of the two harpists is a male! Astounding! The humorous side: between minutes 40 and 42 the whole public on the first 5 rows has been refreshed and Kubelik got a hair-cut. (Probably the work was shot on different nights..). Ma Vlast Reviewed in the United States on 25 February 2012 I bought this DVD over a year ago, but just got around to watching it. What a blessing it is, too! Very sad the this great conductor did not film more. The director, Hugo Kach, has done a remarkable service to the music and the orchestra. I had to twiddle with my audio equalizer a bit to get the sound balanced successfully, but now it is perfect. From the magnificent opening, played by two harps, one longs for that feeling of love for one's country that Smetana colors this work. There is an almost heartbreaking yearning for homeland in this piece. Most of us have lost that patriotism and pride so common to most people, especially when remembered through the eyes and ears of a master composer. Rafael Kubelik draws out of his orchestra the true spirit of a lost country ravaged by war and constant turmoil. It is difficult to single out one section of this fine orchestra, but the brass are particularly powerful and convincing. This is collaborative music making at its best. Kubelik and the players are as one mind, heart, and spirit. Very emotional performance and visually beautiful as well. Five stars are not enough! The photos form part of the description please message me if you need any further information. The disc and booklet are in near mint condition. The cardboard sleeve shows signs of wear on the corners and edges. Free UK delivery only. I use global shipping services for overseas customers and I have no control over their prices. I have hundreds of new and used classical CDs and DVDs being listed. Thanks for looking.

Price: 75 GBP

Location: Bridgend, The Vale of Glamorgan

End Time: 2024-10-02T12:12:50.000Z

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