Walter Dvorak

Cellist János Starker with the complete concertante recordings he made under the baton of Walter Susskind, a conductor praised for his abilities as an accompanist and with whom Starker shared close aesthetics conceptions. Their refined, chamber rendition of masterpieces of the repertoire by Dvořák, Dohnányi or Prokofiev is a superb token of Starker’s deep inwardness.

Cellist János Starker with the complete concertante recordings he made under the baton of Walter Susskind, a conductor praised for his abilities as an accompanist and with whom Starker shared close aesthetics conceptions. Their refined, chamber rendition of masterpieces of the repertoire by Dvořák, Dohnányi or Prokofiev is a superb token of Starker’s deep inwardness.

Cellist János Starker with the complete concertante recordings he made under the baton of Walter Susskind, a conductor praised for his abilities as an accompanist and with whom Starker shared close aesthetics conceptions. Their refined, chamber rendition of masterpieces of the repertoire by Dvořák, Dohnányi or Prokofiev is a superb token of Starker’s deep inwardness.

Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto is considered the finest of his concertos, and arguably the greatest of all such works for the cello, with its majestic character, imposing themes and moods of intense drama and warm lyricism. The nostalgic Silent Woods and the sprightly, eloquent Rondo in G minor both predate the concerto, while the songful Romance in F minor contrasts with the virtuoso brilliance of the Mazurek in E minor. Conducted by Walter Susskind and performed by soloists who were legends in their lifetime – violinist Ruggiero Ricci and cellist Zara Nelsova – these recordings are acclaimed classics. The Elite Recordings for VOX by legendary producers Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are considered by audiophiles to be amongst the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings.

The great 19th-century violinist Joseph Joachim provides a connection between Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and that by his friend Brahms, having given invaluable advice to both composers regarding the works. Dvořák’s Czech spirit is given extra weight through Brahms’ influence, with Classical stature meeting eloquent Slavonic vitality to create a splendid masterpiece, performed here by Ruggiero Ricci in this acclaimed recording. The Piano Concerto is characteristic of the younger Dvořák. It was long championed by soloist Rudolf Firkušný, whose reputation for placing cultured musicianship before extrovert virtuosity suited the work perfectly. This classic VOX recording remains one of the finest versions of the Piano Concerto available, played by the work’s greatest advocate. The Elite Recordings for VOX by legendary producers Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are considered by audiophiles to be amongst the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings.

The Prague Chamber choir was launched in 1990 and was largely encouraged by the new climate of artistic freedom which accompanied Czechoslovakia's reclaimed political independence. The repertoire of Bohemian and Moravian religious music brought together on this album includes works by two of the greatest composers of the nationalist movement during the late-19th and early 20th Centuries. The third piece is a contemporary work by a composer who witnessed first-hand his country's oppression during World War II. Collectively, these pieces by Dvorak, Janacek and Eben add up to a sustained thanksgiving-underlined by a certain pride in the enduring strengths of the Czech tradition of sacred music.