Fibich

Like Smetana’s two quartets and his Piano Trio, strongly programmatic elements underpin both these chamber works, though Fibich cuts a far less original musical mind. Still, the Quintet, which matches piano, wind and strings in a beautifully transparent texture, is blessed with a lyrical melodious opening movement and a charming Scherzo. It receives a sympathetic performance from this excellent ensemble.

This complete set of symphonies by the quintessential Romantic Czech composer Zdeněk Fibich (1850 - 1900), performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra under Karel Šejna, is part of Supraphon's golden treasure. Fibich's highly emotional music filled with inner suspense is certain to enthrall the audience by the very convincingness of its message. The symphonies are coupled here with the idyllic image, At Twilight, and the cantata to the words of Jaroslav Vrchlický, Springtime Romance. This album adds new contours to the portrait of a composer whom most listeners have known solely as the creator of the celebrated Poem.

The Moods, Impressions & Reminiscences of Zdenek Fibich have gone and his art has evaporated. While some listeners might argue that Fibich's symphonic works are his more ambitious and more substantial works, others would insist that they are merely longer and louder works.

Šárka, opus 51, is an opera in three acts by Zdeněk Fibich to a Czech libretto by Anežka Schulzová, his student and lover. Fibich composed the full score over the period of 8 September 1896 to 10 March 1897.

Although Zdenek Fibich (1850-1900) was only 49 when he died he produced an enormous quantity of music including symphonies, symphonic poems, chamber music, liturgical music and piano pieces. His most significant works, however, were his operas, in particular "Sarka" and "The Bride of Messina".

With a little delay following the issue of a complete set of violin works, Supraphon is now coming with the sequel to that title in the "hommage ? Zdeněk Fibich" (1850 - 1900) series, presenting a new recording of the complete quartet output ofthis Czech neo-Romantic composer who has so far failed to get all the interest he would rightfully deserve.

This second compact disc, containing Zdeněk Fibich's piano quartet and quintet complements the first compilation, issued in 2001 (String Quartet in G major, String Quartet in A major, Theme and Variations, Panocha Quartet, SU 3470-2131). Fibich's complete chamber works, a small but significant collection of pieces, are now available to music lovers on two CDs. The composer, a consummate romantic, created true masterpieces which resonate with his distinctive artistic voice. Furthermore, this is the first digital recording of the D Major Piano Quintet in its original version with wind instruments.

The Smetana Trio continued its survey of Czech piano trios with this 2007 Supraphon disc coupling works by Antonin Dvorák, Bohuslav Martinu, and Zdenêk Fibich. As with the earlier discs in this series, the Smetana performs with equal measures of independence and interdependence. Each player has his/her own approach to the music and to the instruments. Violinist Jana Vonáskova-Nováková and cellist Jan Pálenícek don't always agree on the size of their vibratos, for example, and pianist Jitka Cechová doesn't always agree with string players on the inflection of rhythmic accents.

A complete performance is scarcely imaginable, but Kvapil is adept at suggesting and holding some of these brief moods to make an attractive sequence; and he goes on to explore with elegance the five studies of paintings by Ruysdael, Breughel, Fra Angelico (a graceful dance of angels from the Last Judgement triptych), Correggio and Watteau (a charming generalized impression of his fetes galantes with some stylized period dancing). It is an appealing and touching record.