Search - Martinu, Czech Philharmonic Orch, Belohlavek :: Symphony 5 & 6

Outstanding

Precession | 12/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As another online Amazon.com reviewer has noted, the fifty-year old versions of these two symphonies with the same orchestra conducted by Karel Ancerl, also available on a Supraphon CD, are something special. Jiri Belohlavek, one of Ancerl's successors with the orchestra, has recorded the Sixth Symphony with them successfully twice before, but this (a live performance) is the first time he has recorded the Symphony No 5. Whether of not these new performances quite match the Ancerl ones may be matter of taste, but they are certainly in the same league and on a higher level than anything that has appeared in between.



As the two works are wonderful in themselves, the peak of Martinu's considerable symphonic achievement, this CD is a 'must-have' for anyone interested in the composer or wanting to know more about his work."