Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
The Czech Philharmonic is the leading symphonic ensemble in the musically rich Czech Republic, with a long history of definitive performances and recordings of Czech repertory. The orchestra has sometimes found itself a topic of political contention as the waves of European history have swept across its homeland.
Like many other Central European orchestras, the Czech Philharmonic (the Czech name since 2015 is Česká filharmonie, and the word "orchestra" is no longer part of its name) began as a theater orchestra: a group of orchestral musicians at the Prague National Theatre named themselves the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1894, and in two years, the wisdom of the move became apparent when Dvořák conducted the group in a concert of his own works. By 1901, the Philharmonic was a fully independent entity, and it quickly gained renown beyond Czech borders; Mahler conducted the orchestra in the world premiere of his Symphony No. 7 in 1908. The most important among the orchestra's early conductors was Vaclav Talich, who held the post of principal conductor for most of the period between 1919 and 1941.
The orchestra's conductors since then have all been internationally renowned figures. Rafael Kubelik assumed the baton under German occupation in 1942, remaining until 1948 but fleeing at that point as Czechoslovakia came under Communist rule. His successors have included Karel Ancerl (who fled to Canada during the Soviet crackdown after the so-called Prague Spring of 1968), Václav Neumann, and Jiří Bělohlávek, all of whom were distinguished interpreters of Czech music, Mahler, and often French and 20th century music as well. Their recordings gained critical acclaim in the West despite Czechoslovakia's partial isolation during the Cold War. In the late '80s, the orchestra participated in Czech protests against Soviet domination. A performance of Smetana's Má vlast in 1990 marked Kubelik's return to his homeland for the first time in 42 years. Bělohlávek served from 1990 to 1992, stepping down as the orchestra appointed Gerd Albrecht to be its first non-Czech conductor. This move generated controversy, and Albrecht also resigned in 1996. He was succeeded by Vladimir Ashkenazy (1996-2003), who led the orchestra on major international tours. He was followed by Zdeněk Mácal and the Eliahu Inbal. Bělohlávek returned in 2012 and was essentially given a contract for life, making critically acclaimed recordings before his death in 2017. Since 2018, the orchestra's conductor has been Semyon Bychkov.
The Czech Philharmonic has recorded prolifically during the digital era, at first mostly for the Czech national label Supraphon. In the late 2010s, the group has also recorded for the Decca label, which has continued to issue Bělohlávek recordings in its vaults. In 2019, his reading of Josef Suk's Asrael Symphony appeared on that label. The Bychkov era began on Decca with The Tchaikovsky Project (2019), a complete cycle of the composer's symphonies, concertos, and other orchestral works. In 2022, Bychkov and the Philharmonic issued a pair of Mahler symphony releases on the PentaTone Classics label. By that time, the group's recording catalog comprised some 140 digital albums, plus many LPs issued when the Philharmonic was the national orchestra of Czechoslovakia.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Concertos pour violoncelle
Raphael Wallfisch, Česká filharmonie, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek
Klassik - Erschienen bei Chandos am 28.10.1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev & R. Schumann: Piano Concertos (Live)
Samson François, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National De Paris, Karel Ancerl, Carlo Maria Giulini
Klassik - Erschienen bei Archipel am 27.03.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Talich Special Edition 12. Dvořák: Symphonies Nos 6 & 7
Vaclav Talich, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei SUPRAPHON a.s. am 23.03.2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Andrew Downes: Symphonies
Ondrej Vrabec, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Artesmon am 05.02.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sinfonietta And Six Lach Dances
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Brno Radio Symphony Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Artia Records am 24.03.1965
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius & Paganini: Violin Concerto, OP. 47 - Violin Concerto NO. 2, OP. 7
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Yulian Sitkovetsky, Moscow Youth Radio Symphony Orchestra
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei Altair am 13.08.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pictures At An Exhibition
Klassik - Erschienen bei Artia Records am 26.03.1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Talich Special Edition 11. Dvořák: Concert Overtures, Waltzes & Polonaises
Vaclav Talich, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Soloists Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Supraphon a.s. am 23.06.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Masterpieces, Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Neumann, Russell Sherman
Klassik - Erschienen bei Menuetto Classics am 01.01.1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Talich Special Edition 8. Wagner: Tristan und Isolde - Tchaikovsky: Symphony "Pathétique" in B minor
Vaclav Talich, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Supraphon a.s. am 17.03.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé - Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune & Hurník: Ondráš (Stereo Version)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Antonio Pedrotti, Karel Ancerl
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák, Janáček, Prokofiev & Others: Orchestral Works (Live)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Andromeda am 12.02.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 - Kalinnikov: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor (Live)
Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Hermann Scherchen
Klassik - Erschienen bei Archipel am 01.01.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonies No. 1 of Brahms & Kalinnikov
Hermann Scherchen, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei OperaPrima-Carillon am 23.04.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev & Schumann: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl, Samson François, Orchestre National De Paris, Carlo Maria Giulini
Klassik - Erschienen bei OperaPrima-Carillon am 01.01.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pablo Casals Plays Dvorak
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Pablo Casals
Klassik - Erschienen bei Dutton Epoch am 13.10.2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pierre Fournier Schumann and Dvorak Cello Concertos live
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Georges Sebastian, Léopold Stokowski, Pierre Fournier
Klassik - Erschienen bei Archipel am 11.12.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Ouvertures, Symphonic Poems & Symphonic Variations
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Klassik - Erschienen bei Jube Classic am 14.01.2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bohuslav Martinů; Frescoes of Piero della Francesca & Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei PROFOUND am 20.11.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Zemlinsky: Lyric Symphony & Incidental Music to Cymbeline
Antony Beaumont, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Turid Karlsen, Jaroslav Brezina, Franz Grundheber, Bremen Shakespeare Company Members
Symphonien - Erschienen bei Chandos am 01.04.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martinů: Symphony No. 1 & Concerto for Double String Orchestra, Piano & Timpani
Jiří Bělohlávek , Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaroslav Šaroun, Vaclav Mazacek
Symphonien - Erschienen bei Chandos am 01.02.1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo