Smetana (1824-1884) - Ma Vlast : Matacic / Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (15/01/1982 Live)(2CD) - Import 2 CD

Credits:

Smetana (1824-1884)

Description:

Matacic's last year, the intense slow tempo of "My Homeland" 2 CDs for the price of 1! Includes Japanese commentary! This is a masterpiece that does not disappoint. The best ever recording is the Smetacek/Czech Philharmonic recording from 1980, but the performance is in the same class, and the recording is definitely clearer in this Matacic recording" - from Prof. Kuniyoshi Uno's liner notes. The orchestra's name was changed to the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the orchestra wanted to emphasize the de Billy system (!). The orchestra was also reluctant to release recordings from the past due to the fact that the orchestra had changed its name to the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and wanted to emphasize the de Billy regime (!). However, we did not want to leave these performances buried, so we persuaded them together with the Matacic Foundation, and they finally agreed to release the recordings. In a word, this is a top-heavy performance, and it is an emotionally rich performance that fully embraces its title music. The performance time is as follows. [17'20"][13'30"][10'47"][13'22"][ 14'26"][14'55"]*From the liner notes by Mr. Kuniyoshi Uno, at the beginning of the first piece, "The High Castle" (Vysehrad), the harp plays the "high castle "The eloquence of the motive of the "high castle"! This alone grabs the listener's attention. As the piece progresses, the listener is overwhelmed by the weight, monstrousness, and scale of the sound that Matacic creates. The violin sings as if it were swooning, but always with a deep bitterness. The second piece, "Moldau" (Vltava).The somewhat clumsy appearance is typical of Matacic's music, which is truly played by a human being (since most music nowadays seems to be played by a machine). The theme of the nostalgic Moldau River flows along at a leisurely tempo. Of course, the scale is as large as ever. The cheerful hunting horns and the slow tempo of the peasants' dance! I can't dance at this tempo. This is a concert performance. From the moonlight to the theme, the slow tempo does not move a bit. The rapid tempo was not vigorous, and when the theme of the high castle appeared, the tempo was slowed down one more notch, a master's art. The fourth piece, "From the Woods and Meadows of Bohemia" (Z ceskych luhu a haju), has a deep sound and an imposing appearance that is quite different from other conductors' CDs. And how huge it is! Matacic's size as a human being and as an artist was evident from beginning to end. Perhaps that is why there was a round of applause at the end of the performance. Or did they take a break here? I don't think so. All six pieces should have been performed in succession, and the reluctant applause seemed to indicate that the audience was moved by the music. [Comment courtesy of Tobu Trading].