Jan Werich - Gramotingltangl 8CD

This eight-CD Czech-language collection presents Jan Werich’s appearances on Gramotingltangl, a programme by Jiří Suchý broadcast by Czechoslovak Radio from October 1965 until the summer of 1968. The increasingly popular half-hour programme featured Suchý’s witty reflections accompanied by music from gramophone records, with contributions from Miroslav Horníček, Ivan Vyskočil and Jiří Šlitr; some episodes were also hosted by the duo Šimek and Grossmann. From October 1966 until the summer of 1967, Jan Werich appeared irregularly in more than thirty broadcasts, developing reflections on a wide range of subjects in his unmistakable style. Unlike Jiří Suchý’s Gramotingltangl, where the music was an integral part of the programme, the music in Werich’s prepared texts served mainly as an interlude. Much of this music has been removed from this collection, placing the emphasis on Werich’s storytelling. His appearances usually ended with music by Jaroslav Ježek, or compositions by V+W+J, and these transitions between individual Gramotingltangls have been retained. The archive of Czech Radio yielded eleven original half-hour recordings, while most of the missing sections are supplemented by amateur recordings of radio programmes from Karel Koliš’s archive. Thanks to Czech Radio and Supraphon, this collection presents Werich’s view of the world and his thoughts, told with the characteristic wit, insight, sensitivity and intelligence of a creative genius. Alongside the programmes Táto, povídej!, these Gramotingltangls represent one of Jan Werich’s most important collaborations with Czechoslovak Radio.