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Novák: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 / Štilec, Janáček Philharmonic
Naxos

Novák: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 / Štilec, Janáček Philharmonic

$19.99

Details

Composer
Vitezslav Novak
Artist
Marek Stilec
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Apr 28, 2023
Catalog #
8574369
UPC
747313436972

About

Vitĕzslav Novák was one of the most important Czech composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Moravian-Slovak Suite is one of his most popular works, evoking an eventful and romance-filled day in a Slovakian village. Recorded here for the first time since its rediscovery by producer Jiří Štilec, the Two Wallachian Dances further invoke Novák’s passion for folk music. De profundis was written during the dark days of the Second World War. It includes an important part for organ which is unleashed with full force in one of the most triumphant conclusions in all of 20th-century music.

REVIEW:

Vitezlav Novak (1870-1949) described an eventful day in a Slovak village with his Moravian-Slovak Suite. It was recorded for this production for the first time since its rediscovery by producer Jiri Stilec.

Conductor Marek Stilec has his orchestra play in a tense yet sensitive manner to atmospherically reflect the character of the individual pieces (At Church, Among the Children, The Lovers, The Ball, Night).

This is followed by the Two Walachian Dances and, finally, the 22-minute De profundis, which was written during World War II and can be seen as a protest against Nazi terror. Novak dedicated the work after the war to all Czech victims of 1939 to 1945, commenting, "In Brno, where Czech citizens were shot and hanged by the Germans for fun, they went en masse to the executions, just as the Romans did in Nero’s time, when Christians were thrown to the wild beasts."

De profundis thrives on dark brooding sounds and, in contrast, abrupt effects "of almost apocalyptic expression," as the introduction states.

The important organ solo becomes especially impressive in the powerfully thunderous Grandioso and supports the orchestra in the triumphant coda.

-- Pizzicato (Remy Franck)

Tracklist 8 tracks

  1. 1 I. V kostele (In Church) 07:08
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. V kostele (In Church)
    Duration
    07:08
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec
  2. 2 II. Mezi dětmi (Among the Children) 03:44
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Mezi dětmi (Among the Children)
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec
  3. 3 III. Zamilovaní (The Lovers) 04:28
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Zamilovaní (The Lovers)
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec
  4. 4 IV. U muziky (The Ball) 04:49
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. U muziky (The Ball)
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec
  5. 5 V. V noci (At Night) 07:11
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. V noci (At Night)
    Duration
    07:11
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec
  6. 6 No. 1. Troják 04:46
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 1. Troják
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec
  7. 7 No. 2. Dymák 07:30
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 2. Dymák
    Duration
    07:30
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec
  8. 8 De profundis, Op. 67 22:00
    Track
    8
    Title
    De profundis, Op. 67
    Duration
    22:00
    Composer
    Vítězslav Novák
    Performer
    Pavel Svoboda
    Ensemble
    Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marek Štilec