Czech Philharmonic
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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Gounod: Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile
Irmgard Seefried, Gerhard Stolze, Hermann Uhde, Czech Philharmonic, Igor Markevitch
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gounod: Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile
Hermann Uhde, Irmgard Seefried, Gerhard Stolze, Czech Choir Prague, Czech Philharmonic, Igor Markevitch
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Requiem, Biblical Songs, Te Deum
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 20 Mar 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gorecki: Beatus Vir/Totus tuus/Old Polish Music
Nikita Storojev, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Czech Philharmonic, John Nelson
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms : Ein deutsches Requiem
Lucia Popp, Wolfgang Brendel, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Czech Philharmonic, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B Minor - "Pathétique"; Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 14 Oct 2016
Gramophone Editor's Choice16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Cello Concerto In B Minor, Piano Trio In E Minor ‘Dumky’
Sung-Won Yang, Emmanuel Strosser, Olivier Charlier, Zdenek Macal, Czech Philharmonic
Classical - Released by Universal Music Ltd. on 1 Jan 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Slavonic Dances Opp. 46 & 72
Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 7 Oct 2016
Gramophone Editor's Choice16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček: Glagolitic Mass; Taras Bulba; Sinfonietta; The Fiddler’s Child
Jiří Bělohlávek , Czech Philharmonic
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 31 Aug 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorak: Violin Concerto; Serenade for Strings
Edith Peinemann, Czech Philharmonic, Peter Maag
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 1 in D major, Titan
Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic
Symphonic Music - Released by Supraphon a.s. on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prague Spring Festival Gold Edition:, Vol. 1 (Live)
Czech Philharmonic, Annie Fischer, Josef Suk
Classical - Released by Český rozhlas on 19 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: Enigma Variations (Live in Prague / 1972)
Léopold Stokowski, Czech Philharmonic
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jul 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Suk: Asrael Symphony; Pohádka
Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 26 Apr 2019
Gramophone Editor's Choice16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorak: Cello Concerto
Julian Lloyd Webber, Czech Philharmonic, Václav Neumann, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: My Country
Czech Philharmonic, Václav Neumann
Classical - Released by Denon on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prague Spring Festival Gold Edition:, Vol. 3 (Live)
Czech Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Richard Novak
Classical - Released by Český rozhlas on 11 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Op.45
Lucia Popp, Wolfgang Brendel, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Czech Philharmonic, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The World's Greatest Orchestras - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 23 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Suita na básně Michelangela Buonarrotiho pro bas a klavír, 145a, Symfonie č. 1 f moll, Op. 10
Cyril Klimeš, Jiří Kout, Czech Philharmonic
Classical - Released by Supraphon a.s. on 1 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Dimitrij. Opera in 4 Acts, Op. 64
Czech Radio Chorus, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Czech Philharmonic, Gerd Albrecht
Opera - Released by SUPRAPHON a.s. on 1 Nov 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo