Smetana: Má Vlast

Album review

This recording of Smetana's symphonic poem cycle Má Vlast made classical best-seller charts in early 2024, even with numerous versions of the work available, even beyond its second part, the ubiquitous Vltava, known in English as "The Moldau." That riverine piece gives an idea of what to expect from the entire set by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Semyon Bychkov. Bychkov manages what might be called an expanded view of the piece, striking a difficult balance in what seems like a straightforward piece; he keeps the listener's attention hanging between the evergreen melody and the underlying water figuration. In general, Bychkov is a good deal slower than normal for the cycle as a whole, clocking in at more than 81 minutes, while the classic Czech versions come in around the mid-70s. Is this perhaps a non-Czech version of the work? Perhaps, but the orchestral work Bychkov gets from the orchestra ranges from good to extraordinary. Sample the harp opening of "Vyšehrad," which instantly sets an elemental storytelling mood for the cycle. The clarity of the harp in this passage also points to the superior engineering from the PentaTone label, working at the acoustically superior Rudolfinium in Prague. All the many details in Bychkov's reading come through fine, and the end result is a fresh recording that will provide hours of pleasure over multiple hearings. Physical album buyers will get an elegant little note from Bychkov on exile and home.

© James Manheim /TiVo