Smetana: Piano Works 6 (Six morceaux carastéristiques, Woodland Feelings and Impressions, Album Leaves...)

Bedřich Smetana -Six morceaux caractéristiques, Op. 1; Woodland Feelings and Impressions; Caprice in G minor; Pensée fugitive; Stammbuchblätter; Erinnerung an Weimar; Allegro capriccioso; Romance in B flat major; March of the Prague Student Legion; March of the National Guard

Jitka Čechová - piano

The sixth part of the Bedřich Smetana complete piano works series presents pieces composed in the 1840s, the time of the composer's intensive studies and the outset of his independent artistic career. Dedicated to various persons (including Kateřina Kolářová, Smetana's great love and future wife) are the Stammbuchblätter, lovely commemorative album leaves. Some of the pieces (Romance in B flat major, Woodland Feelings and Impressions) were published immediately, others were revised by Smetana and published later. Also dating from this period are the composer's first larger virtuoso pieces (Allegro capriccioso, Caprice in G minor) and major work, the cycle Six morceaux caractéristiques, Op. 1. Smetana sent the autograph to Franz Liszt, who accepted the dedication with pleasure. The nimble hands of the pianist Jitka Čechová make ring the sheer virtuosity and engrossing poetics of the young Smetana's piano works.

The enchanting poetics and bravura virtuosity of the young Bedřich Smetana's piano pieces.