– The exuberant start of a special edition dedicated to a conducting legend of the 20th century-Václav Talich.
– 16 Slavonic Dances in an extraordinary interpretation by Václav Talich and the Czech Philharmonic from the historic 1950 Supraphon recording.
– A version which established the interpretational tradition of the Slavonic Dances, admired in its time and still magical today.
– Talich’s Dvořák not as “a musician who writes dance music, but as a poet of rhythm.”
– The eight Slavonic Dances from 1878 (originally for piano, four hands) were one of Dvořák’s first steps towards world renown. “A divine naturalness flows through this music. Not a trace of anything mechanical or forced,” wrote one critic. Dvořák wrote an additional eight dances in 1886 when he was already a famous composer, and later orchestrated both sets.
Antonín Dvořák
Slavonic Dances, Series I., Op. 46
1. 1 in C major (Presto). Furiant 04:04
2. in E minor (Allegretto scherzando). Dumka 04:48
3. in A flat major (Poco allegro). Polka 04:10
4. in F major (Tempo di minuetto). Sousedská 06:54
5. in A major (Allegro vivace). Skočná 03:19
6. in D major (Allegretto scherzando). Sousedská 05:55
7. in C minor (Allegro assai). Skočná 03:39
8. in G minor (Presto). Furiant 04:44
Antonín Dvořák
Slavonic Dances, Series II., Op. 72
9. in B major (Molto vivace). Odzemek 04:27
10. in E minor (Allegretto grazioso). Mazur 06:43
11. in F major (Allegro). Skočná 03:20
12. in D flat major (Allegretto grazioso). Dumka 04:51
13. in B flat minor (Poco adagio. Vivace). Špacírka 02:44
14. in B flat major (Moderato, quasi minuetto). Polonéza 03:53
15. in C major (Presto). Srbské kolo 03:21
16. in A flat major (Lento grazioso, quasi tempo di valse). Sousedská 07:30
Antonín Dvořák
17. Slavonic Dance, No. 15 – the unique proof with Talich (Talich during the recording session on July 8, 1950) 03:58