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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Ančerl Gold Edition 4. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exibition, a Night on the Bare Mountain - Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia - Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol
Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez SUPRAPHON a.s. le 1 juil. 2002
Choc du Monde de la MusiqueRecommandé par Classica10 de RépertoireDiapason d'or16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ančerl Gold Edition 10. Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 "Classical", Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Sviatoslav Richter, Dagmar Baloghová, Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez SUPRAPHON a.s. le 2 sept. 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ančerl Gold Edition 1. Smetana: Má vlast
Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez SUPRAPHON a.s. le 1 juil. 2002
10 de RépertoireChoc du Monde de la MusiqueRecommandé par Classica16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird, Symphony in C Major, The Wedding, L'Histoire du soldat, Three Pieces & Concertino for String Quartet, Shakespeare Songs
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnányi, Václav Neumann, Zdenek Kosler, Tokyo String Quartet
Classique - Paru chez Praga Digitals le 4 juin 2012
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Martha Argerich Live, Vol. 8
Martha Argerich, Charles Dutoit, Václav Neumann, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez DOREMI le 7 oct. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R. Schumann: Complete Symphonies
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Lawrence Foster
Classique - Paru chez PENTATONE le 12 févr. 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos by Emil Gilels (Remastered 2020, Live 1958)
Emil Gilels, Kurt Sanderling, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording le 13 nov. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Karel Ančerl: Live Recordings
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Classique - Paru chez Supraphon a.s. le 28 janv. 2022
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 7, The Heirs of the White Mountain, Symphonic Poems, Opp. 107, 108, 109, 110 & 111
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Zdenek Kosler, Zdenek Chalabala, Alois Klima
Symphonies - Paru chez Praga Digitals le 1 janv. 2017
Diapason d'or24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Emil Gilels, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl, USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin
Classique - Paru chez Praga Digitals le 1 juin 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tribute to Zdeněk Košler [Smetana, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Bartók…]
Zdenek Kosler, Boris Krajný, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Symphonies - Paru chez Praga Digitals le 1 avr. 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9, Piano Trio No. 2 & String Quartet No. 3
Zdenek Kosler, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Oistrakh Trio, Smetana Quartet
Symphonies - Paru chez Praga Digitals le 1 janv. 2016
Diapason d'or24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances Op. 46 & 72 by Karel Šejna
Karel Sejna, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording le 5 févr. 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ančerl Gold Edition 8. Dvořák: Violin Concerto, Romance - Suk: Fantasia
Josef Suk, Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez SUPRAPHON a.s. le 2 sept. 2002
Choc du Monde de la Musique9 de Répertoire16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: Má Vlast (Complete Symphonic Cycle)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Classique - Paru chez Musical Concepts le 14 juin 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rafael Kubelík. Great Czech Conductors
Rafael Kubelik, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez SUPRAPHON a.s. le 29 déc. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944 "The Great" (Remastered 2023)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Franz Konwitschny
Classique - Paru chez Archipel le 3 févr. 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ančerl Gold Edition 9. Brahms: Symphony No. 1 - Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez SUPRAPHON a.s. le 2 sept. 2002
Choc du Monde de la Musique16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7, Nocturne in B Major & The Water Goblin
Jiří Bělohlávek , Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 sept. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prague Spring Festival Gold Edition, Vol. 4 (Live)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Classique - Paru chez Czech Radio le 22 mai 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Symphonie No. 5 (Stereo Version)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Lovro von Matacic
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo