Hudba pro Prahu - CD (Smetana, Dvořák, Suk, Ostrčil)

A romantic and legendary portrait of Prague recorded by the Prague Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra’s history is closely connected with the history of the Czech capital, and this is reflected in its repertoire. Under chief conductor Tomáš Brauner, the orchestra presents a programme focused on the late 19th century, when the Czech nation fought for its language, culture and identity within the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The programme is built around Josef Suk’s monumental symphonic poem Praga, based on the Hussite chorale “Ktož jsú Boží bojovníci,” Smetana’s Vyšehrad from the celebrated cycle Má vlast, and The Tale of Šemík, an almost unknown symphonic poem by nineteen-year-old Otakar Ostrčil, based on a legend set at Vyšehrad. Antonín Dvořák is represented by the overture My Home, built around the folk song “Kde domov můj,” which later became the Czech national anthem, as well as his fanfare for the Land Exhibition in Prague. Following their warmly received recording of Slavonic Dances, the Prague Symphony Orchestra once again confirms that the Czech late-Romantic repertoire is its natural musical language.