Album
Jakub Hrůša, Ivo Kahánek, Bamberger Symphoniker
Dvořák & Martinů: Piano Concertos
Catalogue Number: SU 4236-2
Published: 27th September 2019
Genre: Orchestral
Format: 1 CD
This album has received following awards:
- BBC Music Magazine Award (2020)
- Disc of the Week, BBC Radio 3 (2019)
- Choc de Classica, Classica magazine (2020)
- Recording of the Month, BBC Music Magazine (2019)
- Choix de Classique HD (2019)
- Album der Woche, BR Klassik (2020)
- Cena Anděl (2019)
Dvořák, Martinů - Piano concertos / Ivo Kahánek, Bamberger Symphoniker, Jakub Hrůša
Antonín Dvořák - Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33 (1876), Bohuslav Martinů - Piano Concerto No. 4, "Incantation", H 358 (1956)
Ivo Kahánek - piano, Bamberger Symphoniker, conductor: Jakub Hrůša
An extraordinary constellation of artists is one the major attributes of the new recording - a Czech conductor and a Czech soloist, and a German orchestra, who have a Czech sound in their DNA. All three of them enjoy great renown in both the European and global contexts. Symbolical is the selection of the album's repertoire - the same world war that deprived the players of the German Philharmonic in Prague of their home and that in 1946 gave rise to the Bamberger Symphoniker in Germany, made Bohuslav Martinů leave his country and Europe itself. The composer wrote his Piano Concerto No. 4, "Incantation", in New York in the twilight of his life, when it was evident that he would never return to his homeland. The connection between Ivo Kahánek and Martinů is profound indeed, with the pianist having played the Incantation at concert halls all over the world (BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek - BBC Proms; Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle, etc.). The performance of the Incantation in Bamberg, captured on the present album, was lauded by the critics as revelatory. The studio recording of Antonín Dvořák's Piano Concerto (based on Sviatoslav Richter's account) ranks among the most remarkable returns to the composer's original version of the work, forbearing the "effective and virtuoso improvements" carried out by its later arrangers. It showcases the tender and melodious music of Dvořák, who always strove to emphasise cordial expression, giving it preference to instrumental impression. An exceptional encounter of outstanding Czech (and other) musicians, performing an exceptional Czech - and global - repertoire.
Dvořák's and Martinů's piano concertos - world-famous Czech works, as performed by an extraordinary constellation of musicians
Antonín Dvořák - Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33 (1876), Bohuslav Martinů - Piano Concerto No. 4, "Incantation", H 358 (1956)
Ivo Kahánek - piano, Bamberger Symphoniker, conductor: Jakub Hrůša
An extraordinary constellation of artists is one the major attributes of the new recording - a Czech conductor and a Czech soloist, and a German orchestra, who have a Czech sound in their DNA. All three of them enjoy great renown in both the European and global contexts. Symbolical is the selection of the album's repertoire - the same world war that deprived the players of the German Philharmonic in Prague of their home and that in 1946 gave rise to the Bamberger Symphoniker in Germany, made Bohuslav Martinů leave his country and Europe itself. The composer wrote his Piano Concerto No. 4, "Incantation", in New York in the twilight of his life, when it was evident that he would never return to his homeland. The connection between Ivo Kahánek and Martinů is profound indeed, with the pianist having played the Incantation at concert halls all over the world (BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek - BBC Proms; Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle, etc.). The performance of the Incantation in Bamberg, captured on the present album, was lauded by the critics as revelatory. The studio recording of Antonín Dvořák's Piano Concerto (based on Sviatoslav Richter's account) ranks among the most remarkable returns to the composer's original version of the work, forbearing the "effective and virtuoso improvements" carried out by its later arrangers. It showcases the tender and melodious music of Dvořák, who always strove to emphasise cordial expression, giving it preference to instrumental impression. An exceptional encounter of outstanding Czech (and other) musicians, performing an exceptional Czech - and global - repertoire.
Dvořák's and Martinů's piano concertos - world-famous Czech works, as performed by an extraordinary constellation of musicians
Reviews
“Kahánek’s scrupulous attention to the dynamic markings results in a clear-textured performance of rare delicacy… Kahánek and the orchestra conjured up a slow movement of magical beauty… Everything adds up coherently thanks to Kahánek's command of its fascinating sonorities.”
BBC Music Magazine, Christmas issue 2019
“Le jeu du pianiste Ivo Kahánek est envoûtant, il sait nous captiver avec son style pianistique qui atteint presque la grâce…”
Classique HD, September 2019
“Un pianiste ou plutôt un musicien romantique par excellence: les phrasés qu’il développe, si soigneusement peaufinés sous ses doigts, saisissent par leur chaleur dans tous les registres, scintillant dans les aigus, caressant les oreilles par la mise en valeur de la douceur vocale de la ligne mélodique… Pour le Concerto pour piano n° 4 Incantation de Bohuslav Martinů, il impressionne par le raffinement et la précision de son toucher au travers d’une partition riche en couleurs et parsemée de touches contrastées… Un must pour les amateurs du piano.”
ResMusica, October 2019
“From start to finish, Dvořák’s and Martinů’s piano concertos are given compelling performances by Ivo Kahánek which feel fresh and exhilarating. With glorious sound to match the quality of the performances, this is an album to relish.”
MusicWeb International, November 2019
“Kahánek and Jakub Hrusa make a brilliant case for a loveable piece. Dvořák's second subject is incredibly catchy, and the slow movement’s opening is drop-dead gorgeous. Kahánek never seeks to dominate; this is very much a meeting of equals, and probably the concerto's best modern recording… Keeping track of Martinů’s freewheeling first movement is an exhilarating challenge, one's ears continually tickled by startling orchestral details… And as with the Dvořák, it receives a remarkable performance, with Hrusa’s Bamberger Symphoniker on incandescent form. Marvellous.”
The Arts Desk, November 2019
“Hrůša has a fine grasp of the large scale architecture of the work, whilst Kahánek brings out the more intimate lyrical moments (Dvořák) … Hrůša, Kahánek and the orchestra give a terrific performance which is well worth the price of the disc alone (Martinů).”
Planet Hugill, November 2019
“Auch hier, im Finale von Dvořáks Klavierkonzert, ist das Zusammenspiel des Pianisten Ivo Kahánek mit den Bamberger Symphonikern unter der Leitung von Jakub Hrůša ausgezeichnet. Die Interpretation strahlt Enthusiasmus aus, sie ist vital und quirlig, liebevoll bis ins kleinste Detail ausgestaltet. Immer wieder tun sich neue Überraschungen und Pointen auf…”
SWR2, November 2019
“Ivo Kahánek erweist sich jedenfalls als glänzender Anwalt, der die genaue Dosierung auch fürs Dramatische dieser Musik findet. Darüber hinaus ist sein jugendlich-blühender Ton geradezu ideal für die zarten und nachdenklichen Momente dieses erzählerischen, anti-virtuosen Konzerts. Derweil lassen Jakub Hrůša und seine Bamberger Symphoniker bis in die feinsten kammermusikalischen Verästelungen hinein den Dialog mit dem Solisten nicht abreißen.”
Rondo, December 2019
“Dans l’orchestre plein de bruits de nature des Bamberger que Jakub Hrůša dirige d’une baguette acérée, ce piano-monde saisit l’écriture mystérieuse et fulgurante d’un opus fascinant… Aussi exceptionnel que soit ce Dvořák, c’est d’abord au chef-d’œuvre de Martinů que vous irez.”
Artalinna, December 2019
“Le soliste construit son propos avec une intelligence rare (aucun risque de s'égarer dans le complexe développement de l'Allegro agitato), en marchant sur l'eau (le toucher chopinien de l'Allegro sostenuto), et en exploitant avec la plus grande pertinence les emprunts stylisés au folklore slave (épatant finale)… Maître de chaque détail, le discipliné Hrusa travaille la diversité des couleurs et des reflets, entretient l'influx nerveux, veille à la précision des attaques (Martinů).”
Diapason, January 2020
“Dieses Album ist ein Hörgenuss, weil Solist, Dirigent und Orchester lebendig, inspiriert und klangschön zusammen musizieren.”
BR Klassik, January 2020
“Le jeu d'Ivo Kahánek reflète parfaitement tout ce que Dvořák a de chantant et de direct, avec une jolie richesse de sonorité, une agréable transparence, une façon très pertinente d'épouser les différentes atmosphères… La direction d'orchestre, très convaincante, noue un équilibre parfait avec le soliste, elle est héroïque ou gracieuse dans le premier mouvement, intérieure ou majestueusement lapidaire dans l'Andante, déterminée ou moelleusement extasiée dans le finale.”
Classica, March 2020
“Kahánek plays beautifully, with sparkling, colorful tone, and the Bamberg Symphony makes like the Czech Philharmonic (Dvořák)… Kahánek is in his element. His previous recordings of Martinů’s solo piano music have also been superb. There seems to be a magical link between composer and performer: When Kahánek plays Martinů, lightning strikes.”
Fanfare, September 2020
“Kaháhek produces the necessary gushing fountains of notes at the big moments, but contrives (with the aid of conductor Jakub Hruša) the most engaging, chamber-like exchanges with the orchestra in the exquisite Andante sostenuto second movement… It dances with just the right lightness of touch and joyful abandon. Marvelous! (Dvořák)… This performance (Martinů) is certainly as compelling as that by the work’s dedicatee, Rudolf Firkušny. Toss in first class engineering, and the result is an exceptional release by any measure.”
ClassicsToday.com, January 2021
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Antonín Dvořák
Piano Concerto G minor Op. 33 B 63
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| 1. | Allegro agitato | 19:19 | |
| 2. | Andante sostenuto | 09:33 | |
| 3. | Finale. Allegro con fuoco | 11:33 | |
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Bohuslav Martinů
Piano Concerto No. 4 H 358 Incantation
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| 4. | Poco allegro | 09:01 | |
| 5. | Poco moderato | 10:04 | |