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
-
Cherubini: Requiem No. 2; Mozart: Mass in C Major, K. 317 “Coronation” (Igor Markevitch – The Deutsche Grammophon Legacy: Volume 1)
Czech Chorus, Prague, Czech Philharmonic, Choeurs Elisabeth Brasseur, Orchestre Lamoureux, Igor Markevitch
Classique - Paru chez Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. le 1 janv. 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gounod: Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile; An Interview with Igor Markevitch (Igor Markevitch – The Deutsche Grammophon Legacy: Volume 19)
Irmgard Seefried, Gerhard Stolze, Hermann Uhde, Czech Chorus, Prague, Czech Philharmonic, Igor Markevitch
Classique - Paru chez Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. le 1 janv. 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms : Altrhapsodie, Schicksalslied, Triumphlied
Brigitte Fassbaender, Wolfgang Brendel, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Lubomir Matl, Czech Philharmonic, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Classique - Paru chez Deutsche Grammophon (DG) le 1 janv. 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Václav Talich Conducts Dvořák Symphony No. 8 and Suk Serenade For Strings (2023 Remastered Version)
Vaclav Talich, Czech Philharmonic
Classique - Paru chez Parnassus le 1 janv. 1991
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Great Artists in Prague: Václav Neumann / Mahler - Live at the Prague Spring Festival
Czech Philharmonic, Vilém Pribyl, Vera Soukupova
Classique - Paru chez Český rozhlas le 1 janv. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Rusalka
Renée Fleming, Ben Heppner, Czech Philharmonic, Charles Mackerras
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 20 oct. 1998
Gramophone Record of the Year16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: Má Vlast: II Vltava
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Symphonies - Paru chez Pentatone le 9 févr. 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 1 août 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bach Transcriptions
Czech Philharmonic, Léopold Stokowski
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 7 oct. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Rusalka - Highlights
Renée Fleming, Ben Heppner, Czech Philharmonic, Charles Mackerras
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 1 janv. 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Complete Symphonies & Concertos
Garrick Ohlsson, Alisa Weilerstein, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 1 janv. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorak : Cello Concerto (+ Reger & Francaix)
Anja Thauer, Czech Philharmonic, Zdenek Macal, Jean Françaix
Classique - Paru chez Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. le 25 sept. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák - Slavonic Dances & Other Works
Classique - Paru chez UME - Global Clearing House le 4 mars 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: Má Vlast
Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 5 janv. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Symphony No. 38 - Dvorak: Symphony No. 9
Czech Philharmonic, Rafael Kubelik
Classique - Paru chez Denon le 1 janv. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák
Alisa Weilerstein, Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek , Anna Polonsky
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 21 avr. 2014
5 de Diapason16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov, Kirill Gerstein
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 30 août 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gounod: Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile
Irmgard Seefried, Gerhard Stolze, Hermann Uhde, Czech Philharmonic, Igor Markevitch
Classique - Paru chez Deutsche Grammophon (DG) le 1 janv. 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D / Shostakovich: Symphony No.10, Op.93
Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Czech Philharmonic, Berliner Philharmoniker, Karel Ancerl
Classique - Paru chez Deutsche Grammophon (DG) le 1 janv. 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák
Alisa Weilerstein, Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek , Anna Polonsky
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 21 avr. 2014
5 de Diapason16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Novák: Eternal Longing, In the Tatras, Moravian-Slovak Suite
Karel Sejna, Czech Philharmonic, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra
Musique symphonique - Paru chez SUPRAPHON a.s. le 1 janv. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo