Smetana: Má vlast (My Fatherland) London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis

• Bedřich Smetana (1824 - 1884): Má vlast:
• 1 Má vlast: I. Vyšehrad 15:01
• 2 Má vlast: II. Vltava 12:37
• 3 Má vlast: III. Šárka 10:11
• 4 Má vlast: IV. Z českých luhů a hájů 12:09
• 5 Má vlast: V. Tábor 11:27
• 6 Má vlast: VI. Blaník 13:47
• Total Runtime 01:15:12

Info for Smetana: Má vlast (My Fatherland)

Inspired by the mythology and pastoral beauty of his Czech homeland, Smetana's six tone poems that form Má vlast (My Fatherland) is one of the best examples of Nationalism in music. The stirring second movement depicts the river Vltava as it flows through the countryside and into Prague. Struck with deafness in 1874, Smetana would never hear a performance of what would become his most popular work.

"Colin Davis and the LSO turn in a vivid, exciting account of Smetana's perennially fresh, dramatic cycle of tone poems ... the best performances of this work must convey a sense of occasion, of a big event taking place ... Davis and the LSO have managed to capture this elusive quality" (ClassicsToday)

"Colin Davis has an affinity with Czech music that is every bit as strong as his better-known sympathy with Berlioz or Mozart ... a performance that welds the six portraits into a convincing whole. The LSO plays with warmth and grandeur and the recorded balance is one of the most successful in this series" (Daily Telegraph)

"The LSO Live label goes from strength to strength ... Smetana's cycle of six tone poems reflecting the mythology and pastoral beauty of his Czech homeland is a given a a vivid and richly rewarding performance that delights the ear as uch as the heart. More luxuriant orchestral sound and refined ensemble playing ..." (Classic FM Magazine)

"there can be no mistaking the conviction that he brings to the cycle ... Davis never loses sight of the outcome - the main motifs coalescing into an apotheosis both uninhibited and triumphant" (International Record Review)

London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Colin Davis, conductor

Sir Colin Davis
The traditional road to success for a conductor used to be an apprenticeship in an opera house as a coach, playing the piano for singers in rehearsal. Colin Davis chose another route, partly by necessity. Unable to play the piano, he was not allowed into the conducting course at the Royal College of Music in London. So, he achieved an important international career by taking the initiative to form ensembles and conduct for friends at first. Early successes included the founding of the Chelsea Opera Group, a company which to this day gives performances of little known operas in concert.

Davis was soon working with professional orchestras including the BBC Scottish Symphony. His first ‘break’ was at Sadler’s Wells in 1958 when his conducting of Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio began a lifelong connection with that composer. The Edinburgh Festival followed along with Glyndebourne. His concert career blossomed in the mid 1960′s alongside his opera work and his other passion for Berlioz began to bring him to the attention of record lovers. He has recorded all the major works of Berlioz, including the first complete (and still regarded as the landmark) recording of Les Troyens.

Davis has enjoyed a career-long affiliation with Philips Classics, recording along with Berlioz, Mozart, the complete symphonies of Sibelius (while he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Symphony in the 1970s) and much more.

This album contains no booklet.