Láska nebeská / Písně z muzikálu / Originální nahrávky 1961-1980 - 2 CD

This double CD presents 33 original recordings by Waldemar Matuška from 1961 to 1980, released alongside a new musical at Prague's Broadway Theatre celebrating his legendary songs. Following earlier productions built around the music of Václav Neckář, Karel Gott and Helena Vondráčková, the musical now turns to Matuška, whose career runs from his Semafor beginnings through the Slavíci medals to his collaboration with KTO. The collection is a remarkable survey of songs from the golden era of Czechoslovak popular music, especially the 1960s and 1970s, which remain unforgettable today. Matuška created a unique vocal category of his own, performing songs by leading Czech and Slovak composers and lyricists alongside carefully chosen American, French and Italian covers. Known affectionately as Walda, he became a national favourite, and his songs entered the shared memory of the public. Neither his emigration to the United States nor the passing years diminished his place in that memory, and after 1989 he returned to the stage in a series of celebrated appearances. The album includes such songs as Námořnickej bál, Slavíci z Madridu, Já mám jódlování rád, Píseň pro Kristýnku, Tisíc mil, Ach, ta láska nebeská, Tereza, Růže z Texasu and Sbohem, lásko, along with many other enduring hits.