Martinů: Early Orchestral Works, Vol. 3

Album review

Nowadays everyone knows (or should know) Martinů’s symphonies, as well as some of his brilliant symphonic poems such as The Frescoes of Piero della Francesca, but most of the orchestral works from his first maturity – recorded here in several volumes – remain largely ignored. With these volumes, you’ll hear how in 1915-1920, Martinů already wrote prime Martinů-esque works, in such a distinctive style – even though the orchestra can be reminiscent of Josef Suk, Debussy and Strauss, or even Rachmaninoff’s Isle of the Dead. In fact, just like Rachmaninoff’s work, the ballad Villa by the Sea (Vol. 3) is clearly evocative of a – very similar – Böcklin painting! Please note this is a discographic first (yes this can still be a thing for Martinů! As unlikely as it sounds), same for the eerie Míjející půlnoc (“Vanishing Midnight”, Vol. 3), a brilliant orchestral feat. The Shadow (Vol. 2), a ballet from 1916, at times features baroque idioms – it is indeed said that Martinů often drew inspiration from his predecessors, always with incredible musical originality. All in all, a must for the fans of a composer who, as it seems, still holds quite a few tricks up his sleeve. © SM/Qobuz