Martinů: Bouquet of Flowers - Novák: Philharmonic Dances

“Bohuslav Martinů lived in Paris through the 1920s and got swept up in the city’s jazz and avant-garde scenes. Then in the early 1930s he turned his attention back to his native Moravian folk culture and wrote earthy, angular music that fused the lot – including his 1937 cantata Bouquet of Flowers. It’s for children’s chorus, soloists and orchestra and there’s no danger of missing the smell of the soil in these pungent tunes. However, between the carols and cowherds come moments of impressively stark modernism, which this account really illuminates. The voices of Kateřina Kněžíková and Michaela Kapustová are particularly rich together and Tomáš Netopil conducts with a grand sweep.”
The Guardian, December 2017

“Although Ančerl’s recording has been issued several times over the past 50 years, it is currently unavailable. Tomáš Netopil’s new account is a more than satisfactory alternative, gentler and softer than the older version but with no loss of precision, not least in the folk-cum-Stravinskian rhythms. To cap it all, the first studio recording of Jan Novák’s scinti­llating, Martinů-esque Philharmonic Dances (1955 56): why has it taken 61 years for this terrific tribute to the Czech Philharmonic to arrive in the studio? Buy and enjoy!”
Gramophone, February 2018

“On y gagne parfois une forme de tendress. Bref, sans déboulonner ‚la‘ référence, ce live de belle tenue mérite amplement sa médaile d´argent sur le podium.”
Diapason, February 2018

“An idiomatic performance of Bouquet of Flowers, an engaging cantata based on folk song, and displaying hints of Janáček and Stravinsky.”
BBC Music Magazine, March 2018

“For those who love Czech music, this is a highly valuable disc. For those, like me, passionate about Martinů, it is indispensable… Performances throughout are excellent. Recordings are clear, and Netopil is emerging as a formidable musician. I have been impressed by previous recordings, and the Czech musical tradition seems very safe under his direction.”
MusicWeb International, April 2018

“A genuinely wonderful piece, and one which poor Martinů never got to hear live. He’d have appreciated you buying this superb performance, with soloists, choirs and orchestral forces under Tomáš Netopil performing as if possessed… The three folk-inspired dances are deceptively weighty numbers, superbly orchestrated. The last one closes magnificently, brass ringing out over scurrying strings like a Slavonic remix of Britten's Young Person’s Guide. Quite brilliant – purchase forthwith (Novák).”
Arts Desk, May 2018

“Le chef gomme également tout ce qui faisait l'aspect folklorique de a précédente lecture et offre, grâce aux nombreuses qualités de l'Orchestre symphonique de la Radio tchèque et Choeur philharmonique de Prague, une vision plus moderne de l'oeuvre: clarté de la diction, franchise des couleurs, équilibredes timbres et des voix.”
Classica, May 2018

“Tomáš Netopil reprend à son compte, dorant l’orchestre, ébrouant les chœurs d’enfants, menant ses solistes grand train, et ménageant pourtant une lecture plus dramatique qu’à l’accoutumée : ce Bouquet n’est pas que printanier, Martinů y tenait d’ailleurs… L’éditeur nous rembourse avec, comme pour la gravure récente de Gilgamesh par Manfred Honeck, un bel album artistement conçu.”
Artalinna, January 2018