Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1, Romeo and Juliet

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth, and 20th anniversary of the death of Václav Smetáček, (1906-1986), principal conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra from 1942 to 1972. During the years of his work with the Prague Symphony he gradually enlarged, reorganized and elevated it to the level of a first-class orchestra with a remarkable repertoire. As an artist with an enormously broad cultural overview he was invited to make guest appearances in many countries of the world. Out of the numerous recordings that he made with "his" orchestra for Supraphon, these two exemplary pieces by the Russian Romantic P. I. Tchaikovsky have been selected. In them, Smetáček masterfully uncovers the sensitive, romantic, pain-filled music of this Russian master.