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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Sanabria: Atlántica - Elan - Sinfonia Urbana - World Premiere Recordings (Digitally Remastered)
Klassik - Erschienen bei EMG Classical am 11.01.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Karel Šejna. Great Czech Conductors
Karel Sejna, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei SUPRAPHON a.s. am 23.03.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weber: Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65, J.260 (Digitally Remastered)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Klassik - Erschienen bei EMG Classical am 23.10.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Tone Poems (Zdenek Kosler, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Denon am 20.10.1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Telemann: Concertos
Klassik - Erschienen bei SUPRAPHON a.s. am 01.01.1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bohuslav Martinů; Symphony No. 6, Concerto for Piano No. 3, Kytice & Memorial to Lidice (Conducted by Karel Ančerl)
Klassik - Erschienen bei PROFOUND am 20.11.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Proms Music 2016, Vol. 1
Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Editions Audiovisuel Beulah am 08.07.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weber: Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 J. 260
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Klassik - Erschienen bei Red Note OMP am 17.05.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák & Miaskovsky: Cello Concerto, Op. 104 - Cello Concerto, Op. 66
Mstislav Rostropovich, Vaclav Talich, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Infinity am 15.05.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Pablo Casals Cello Concertos, vol. 6
Pablo Casals, George Szell, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Infinity am 09.12.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / gem. Chor und Orchester spielen: Antonín Dvořák: Requiem fuer Soli 5
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Chorus Prague, Maria Stader, Sieglinde Wagner, Ernst Haefliger, Kim Borg
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei Classico Ivano am 12.09.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / gem. Chor und Orchester spielen: Antonín Dvořák: Requiem fuer Soli 2
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Chorus Prague, Maria Stader, Sieglinde Wagner, Ernst Haefliger, Kim Borg
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei Classico Ivano am 12.09.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast (My Fatherland) (Album of 1951)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Sejna
Klassik - Erschienen bei GazzaLadra am 30.03.2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dukas: L'apprenti sorcier (Mono Version)
Oskar Danon, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ibis am 24.06.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphony NO. 6, OP. 60, B.112
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Altair am 21.02.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Gran Música: Mendelssohn
Klassik - Erschienen bei Alpha Center Digital am 04.07.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / gem. Chor und Orchester spielen: Antonín Dvořák: Requiem fuer Soli 1
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Maria Stader, Sieglinde Wagner, Ernst Haefliger, Kim Borg, Czech Chorus Prague
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei Classico Ivano am 12.09.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Conductor Legend: Kirill Kondrashin, Vol. 3
Kirill Kondrashin, Mstislav Rostropovich, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Intense Media GmbH am 03.12.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Absolutely Classical Vol. 134
Klassik - Erschienen bei Wamsenzo am 23.02.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo