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
-
Leoš Janáček: From the House of the Dead, Amarus & The Cunning Little Vixen
Václav Neumann, Vera Soukupova, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Frantisek Jilek
Symphonies - Released by Praga Digitals on Jun 1, 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Martha Argerich Live, Vol. 11
Martha Argerich, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Moshe Atzmon
Classical - Released by DOREMI on Jan 6, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Respighi : Pins de Rome, Fêtes romaines
Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Fritz Reiner, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Antonio Pedrotti
Symphonic Poems - Released by Les Indispensables de Diapason on Feb 22, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Leoš Janáček: Hospodine, Glagolitic Mass, Diary of One Who Disappeared
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Choir, Václav Neumann
Classical - Released by Praga Digitals on May 1, 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Georges Bizet: Symphonie en Ut, Roma, Jeux d'enfants
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Zdenek Kosler, Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, Fuat Mansurov
Symphonies - Released by Praga Digitals on Sep 1, 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Karel Ančerl, Conductor: Smetana ● Dvořák ● Mussorgsky
Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Ermitage Records on Apr 17, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: Má Vlast (Remastered 2021)
Vaclav Talich, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording on May 4, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Love with Chopin
Halina Czerny-Stefanska, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra Warsaw, Vaclav Smetacek, Witold Rowicki
Classical - Released by Profil on May 15, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances Op. 46 & 72 by Karel Šejna (2023 Remastered, Prague 1959)
Karel Sejna, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording on Oct 7, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15, Suite, Op. 145a, Novorossiisk Chimes, Op. 111b
Symphonies - Released by Praga Digitals on May 1, 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dmitri Shostakovich: The Pioneer
Classical - Released by Praga Digitals on Jan 1, 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Piano Concerto No. 1, BWV 1052
Classical - Released by Music Online on Feb 4, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antonín Dvořák: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Sejna
Symphonies - Released by Praga Digitals on Jan 1, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Richard Blackford: Kalon
Albion Quartet, Jirí Rožeñ, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Sep 6, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Antonín Dvořák: Symphonies No. 8 & No. 9 "From the New World"
Frantisek Stupka, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Praga Digitals on Jun 1, 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 23, TH 55 - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
Sviatoslav Richter, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl, Stanislaw Wislocki
Classical - Released by Artemisia on Dec 13, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martinů: Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano and Timpani – Weber: Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, Op. 75
Jiri Seidl, Stanislav Macura, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Supraphon a.s. on Oct 14, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: The Bartered Bride: Act III: "Skocna" - "Dance of the Comedians" (Digitally Remastered)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek
Opera - Released by EMG Classical on Jun 29, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček: Sinfonietta - Martinů: Symphonie No. 6 - Suk: Scherzo
Jiří Bělohlávek , Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on Apr 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Historical Mahler, Vol. 9 (Remastered 2023)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl
Classical - Released by Urania Records on Jan 31, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Concertos pour violoncelle
Raphael Wallfisch, Česká filharmonie, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek
Classical - Released by Chandos on Oct 28, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo