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What men live by? described by Martinu as a pastoral-opera was written in 1951-1952 in the United States, to an English libretto by the composer after the short story by Leo Tolstoy "Where Love is, there God is also" (1885), and premiered as a television broadcast in New York in May 1953. The first staged performance took place on July 31, 1954, in Interlochen, Michigan. Today we owe Belohlavek and the Czech Philharmonic orchestra this first discographic recording. Here is the argument: devastated by the pain of the loss of his wife and children, Martin Avdeitch, cobbler by trade, is comforted in the reading of the Bible. During a dream, he sees Jesus who promises him to visit him the next day. While waiting for this meeting, the man helps a poor mother with her child, offers a tea to a soldier, takes the defense of a child whom his grandmother denounces as a thief. In the evening, he hears again the voice of Jesus who says to him: "Did you not recognize me?"
« [...] the composer wants more joy than preaching: "you have to sing it like a popular song, without pathos." Jiri Belohlavek does not betray his will. Well helped by Lukas Vasilek's luminous Martinu Voices and a Czech Philharmonic which in the Great Hall of Rudolfinum perfectly adapts to the dimensions of this intimate theater, he paints a lively and superbly imagined miniature. Entirely Czech-speaking, the voices color English with inflections that add to the cachet of this first recording. Nothing to say about the performance of Ivan Kusnjer, always able to find the appropriate expressive register. [...] Belohlavek adorns the Symphony No. 1 (1942) with new finery, after a first engraving under a stormy sky (Chandos) and an English remake full of a luminous interiority (Onyx). [...] » (Diapason, January 2019 / Nicolas Derny). Disappeared in 2017, the Czech conductor will not have had time to record his new version of the Martinu complete symphonies. © Qobuz
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What Men Live By, H. 336, opera-pastoral (Bohuslav Martinů)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Josef Špaček, spoken role (Narrator) - Jaroslav Březina, tenor (Narrator) - Ivan Kusnjer, baritone (Martin Avdějič, cobbler) - Martinů Voices (Lukáš Vasilek, choirmaster) - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Ivan Kusnjer, baritone (Martin Avdějič, cobbler) - Petr Svoboda, bass (Old peasant) - Jan Martiník, bass (Stěpanič) - Lucie Silkenová, soprano (A woman with child) - Ester Pavlů, alto (Old woman) - Jaroslav Březina, tenor (Narrator) - Josef Špaček, spoken role (Narrator) - Lukáš Mareček, spoken role (A boy) - Martinů Voices (Lukáš Vasilek, choirmaster) - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Ivan Kusnjer, baritone (Martin Avdějič, cobbler) - Petr Svoboda, bass (Old peasant) - Jan Martiník, bass (Stěpanič) - Lucie Silkenová, soprano (A woman with child) - Ester Pavlů, alto (Old woman) - Jaroslav Březina, tenor (Narrator) - Josef Špaček, spoken role (Narrator) - Lukáš Mareček, spoken role (A boy) - Martinů Voices (Lukáš Vasilek, choirmaster) - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Ivan Kusnjer, baritone (Martin Avdějič, cobbler) - Petr Svoboda, bass (Old peasant) - Jan Martiník, bass (Stěpanič) - Lucie Silkenová, soprano (A woman with child) - Ester Pavlů, alto (Old woman) - Jaroslav Březina, tenor (Narrator) - Josef Špaček, spoken role (Narrator) - Lukáš Mareček, spoken role (A boy) - Martinů Voices (Lukáš Vasilek, choirmaster) - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Ivan Kusnjer, baritone (Martin Avdějič, cobbler) - Petr Svoboda, bass (Old peasant) - Jan Martiník, bass (Stěpanič) - Lucie Silkenová, soprano (A woman with child) - Ester Pavlů, alto (Old woman) - Jaroslav Březina, tenor (Narrator) - Josef Špaček, spoken role (Narrator) - Lukáš Mareček, spoken role (A boy) - Martinů Voices (Lukáš Vasilek, choirmaster) - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Symphony No. 1, H. 289 (Bohuslav Martinů)
Czech Philharmonic - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor - Bohuslav Martinu, Composer
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Czech Philharmonic - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor - Bohuslav Martinu, Composer
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Czech Philharmonic - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor - Bohuslav Martinu, Composer
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Czech Philharmonic - Jiří Bělohlávek, Conductor - Bohuslav Martinu, Composer
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
Albumbeschreibung
What men live by? described by Martinu as a pastoral-opera was written in 1951-1952 in the United States, to an English libretto by the composer after the short story by Leo Tolstoy "Where Love is, there God is also" (1885), and premiered as a television broadcast in New York in May 1953. The first staged performance took place on July 31, 1954, in Interlochen, Michigan. Today we owe Belohlavek and the Czech Philharmonic orchestra this first discographic recording. Here is the argument: devastated by the pain of the loss of his wife and children, Martin Avdeitch, cobbler by trade, is comforted in the reading of the Bible. During a dream, he sees Jesus who promises him to visit him the next day. While waiting for this meeting, the man helps a poor mother with her child, offers a tea to a soldier, takes the defense of a child whom his grandmother denounces as a thief. In the evening, he hears again the voice of Jesus who says to him: "Did you not recognize me?"
« [...] the composer wants more joy than preaching: "you have to sing it like a popular song, without pathos." Jiri Belohlavek does not betray his will. Well helped by Lukas Vasilek's luminous Martinu Voices and a Czech Philharmonic which in the Great Hall of Rudolfinum perfectly adapts to the dimensions of this intimate theater, he paints a lively and superbly imagined miniature. Entirely Czech-speaking, the voices color English with inflections that add to the cachet of this first recording. Nothing to say about the performance of Ivan Kusnjer, always able to find the appropriate expressive register. [...] Belohlavek adorns the Symphony No. 1 (1942) with new finery, after a first engraving under a stormy sky (Chandos) and an English remake full of a luminous interiority (Onyx). [...] » (Diapason, January 2019 / Nicolas Derny). Disappeared in 2017, the Czech conductor will not have had time to record his new version of the Martinu complete symphonies. © Qobuz
Details of original recording : Recorded live December 2014 (What Men Live By) & January 2016 (Symphony) at the Rudolfinum (Dvorak Hall) in Prague (Czech Republic)
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 01:15:51
- Main artists: Josef Špaček, Lukáš Mareček, Jiří Bělohlávek, Lukáš Vasilek, Czech Philharmonic, Martinů Voices
- Composer: Bohuslav Martinů
- Label: Supraphon a.s.
- Area: République Tchèque
- Genre: Klassiek Opera
- Period: Modern Style
Supraphon A.s. Supraphon A.s.
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