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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Honegger: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 (Stereo Version)
Serge Baudo, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Sanabria: Atlántica - Elan - Sinfonia Urbana - World Premiere Recordings (Digitally Remastered)
Klassiek - Released by EMG Classical on 11 jan. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Karel Šejna. Great Czech Conductors
Karel Sejna, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by SUPRAPHON a.s. on 23 mrt. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weber: Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65, J.260 (Digitally Remastered)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Klassiek - Released by EMG Classical on 23 okt. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Tone Poems (Zdenek Kosler, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra)
Klassiek - Released by Denon on 20 okt. 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Telemann: Concertos
Klassiek - Released by SUPRAPHON a.s. on 1 jan. 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bohuslav Martinů; Symphony No. 6, Concerto for Piano No. 3, Kytice & Memorial to Lidice (Conducted by Karel Ančerl)
Klassiek - Released by PROFOUND on 20 nov. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Proms Music 2016, Vol. 1
Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Editions Audiovisuel Beulah on 8 jul. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weber: Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 J. 260
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Klassiek - Released by Red Note OMP on 17 mei 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák & Miaskovsky: Cello Concerto, Op. 104 - Cello Concerto, Op. 66
Mstislav Rostropovich, Vaclav Talich, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra
Symfonische muziek - Released by Infinity on 15 mei 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Pablo Casals Cello Concertos, vol. 6
Pablo Casals, George Szell, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Infinity on 9 dec. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / gem. Chor und Orchester spielen: Antonín Dvořák: Requiem fuer Soli 5
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Chorus Prague, Maria Stader, Sieglinde Wagner, Ernst Haefliger, Kim Borg
Concertmuziek - Released by Classico Ivano on 12 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / gem. Chor und Orchester spielen: Antonín Dvořák: Requiem fuer Soli 2
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Chorus Prague, Maria Stader, Sieglinde Wagner, Ernst Haefliger, Kim Borg
Concertmuziek - Released by Classico Ivano on 12 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dukas: L'apprenti sorcier (Mono Version)
Oskar Danon, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich
Klassiek - Released by Ibis on 24 jun. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphony NO. 6, OP. 60, B.112
Symfonische muziek - Released by Altair on 21 feb. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Gran Música: Mendelssohn
Klassiek - Released by Alpha Center Digital on 4 jul. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / gem. Chor und Orchester spielen: Antonín Dvořák: Requiem fuer Soli 1
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Maria Stader, Sieglinde Wagner, Ernst Haefliger, Kim Borg, Czech Chorus Prague
Concertmuziek - Released by Classico Ivano on 12 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Conductor Legend: Kirill Kondrashin, Vol. 3
Kirill Kondrashin, Mstislav Rostropovich, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 3 dec. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Absolutely Classical Vol. 134
Klassiek - Released by Wamsenzo on 23 feb. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo