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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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 -
Shostakovich: Symphonie No. 5, Op. 47 (Stereo Version)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Cello Concerto and Piano Concerto
Mstislav Rostropovich, František Maxián, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Regis Records am 22.09.1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphony No.7, Op.70, B. 141
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Altair am 21.02.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák & Myaskovsky: Cello Concerto No.2, OP. 104 - Cello Concerto, OP. 66
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Mstislav Rostropovich, Philharmonia Orchestra
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei Altair am 09.09.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martin Turnovský. Great Czech Conductors
Martin Turnovsky, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei SUPRAPHON a.s. am 27.04.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Historical Bruckner Vol. IV
Franz Konwitschny, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Urania Records am 31.05.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Masterworks
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker, Cleveland Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei The Golden Legacy of Music am 16.09.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 6 In "B" Minor Opus 74 "Pathetique"
Klassik - Erschienen bei Artia Records am 26.03.1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 3 In F Major, Op. 76 / Othello Overture, Op. 93
Klassik - Erschienen bei Artia Records am 26.03.1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Suk: Praga & Symphony in C Minor "Asrael" (Mono Version)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1900
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Talich Special Edition 3. Janáček: Taras Bulba - Suk: The Ripening
Vaclav Talich, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Supraphon a.s. am 27.06.2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Talich Special Edition 7. Dvořák: Symphonic Poems
Vaclav Talich, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Supraphon a.s. am 17.03.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antonín Dvořák: Cello Concerto No.2, Symphony No. 8
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Editions Audiovisuel Beulah am 26.08.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: Má vlast
Klassik - Erschienen bei Editions Audiovisuel Beulah am 20.10.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stabat Mater Antonín Dvořák
Klassik - Erschienen bei Editions Audiovisuel Beulah am 08.03.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 33 - Slavonic Dances, Op. 46
Klassik - Erschienen bei Editions Audiovisuel Beulah am 06.11.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 - Cello Concerto No. 1
Van Cliburn, Mstlislav Rostropovich, Kirill Kondrashin, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Infinity am 21.05.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L'art de Karel Ancerl
Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Tahra am 26.08.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Konwitschny conducts Richard Wagner
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Franz Konwitschny
Klassik - Erschienen bei Archipel am 14.04.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Orfeus, Pulcinella Suite
Oskar Danon, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei SUPRAPHON a.s. am 31.03.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo