Album

Miroslav Sekera - piano (Metamorphoses), Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Marko Ivanović

With his life and work, Miloslav Kabeláč, one of the greatest 20th-century Czech symphonists, foregrounded a highly topical theme: the necessity of not yielding to evil and commitment to humanistic ideals. He displayed both during the Nazi occupation and the time of Communist dictatorship in Czechoslovakia. Within the toughest totalitarianism Kabeláč escaped the ideological grip of the authoritarian regime by looking up to the star-studded sky. In The Mystery of Time, an underestimated gem of 20th-century European symphonic music, he expresses his emotional trepidation of and fascination with space, the solid order that governs the cosmos. Amidst the easing of the political oppression in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s, Kabeláč garnered international esteem and created two major pieces: Hamlet Improvisation (marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth) and Reflections. In the wake of the Soviet invasion in August 1968, the Communist government again tightened the screws, striving to silence the open-minded composer's music at home and abroad alike. Kabeláč completed Metamorphoses II just a few weeks before his death. His final work is inspired by the oldest Czech hymn Hospodine, pomiluj ny (Lord, Have Mercy On Us), symbolically ending with the prayer Kyrie eleison, repeated three times. The Mystery of Time album links up to the acclaimed recording of Kabeláč's symphonies (Supraphon, 2016), thus supplementing the artist's remarkable discography with other jewels.

Mystery of Time - an underestimated gem of 20th-century European symphonic music

Reviews

“All the works are played with commitment and tension by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under Marko Ivanovic, making this CD an enduringly impressive calling card for the composer.”
Pizzicato, October 2022

“I can report that Ivanović’s reading proves well worth the wait. The playing of his Prague orchestra is precise and uncommonly committed. The recording is detailed and ideally balanced, if a tad dry – I would have liked a little more air around the solo flute and violin passages which play a pivotal part in the structure of this mighty work. They are most movingly delivered by the Prague orchestra’s principals at least. This fresh recording finally allows the listener to appreciate the scope of Kabeláč’s ambition in this work and the mastery of his orchestration.”
MusicWeb International, October 2022

“The music of Miloslav Kabeláč really should be far better known outside his native country (what was then Czechoslovakia). A highly principled man, he never followed any compositional orthodoxy and stood firm against the various waves of political turbulence that shook his country – after 1968 his music was not performed there, but only abroad… The Prague Radio Symphony under Marko Ivanovic´’s firm direction seem convinced by every note of the work, and the sound is superbly captured by Supraphon’s team… This is a truly outstanding album of music by an outstanding composer.”
Gramophone, December 2022

“Bonheur de voir donc un chef de la jeune génération se dévouer à l’illustration d’un corpus historiquement essentiel : après l’intégrale des Symphonies (voir ici), Marko Ivanović réunit quatre œuvres emblématiques de l’évolution de l’univers de Kabeláč.”
Artalinna, January 2023

“People looking for a good modern composer whose music is approachable and compelling will find those qualities. I like these more than the other Kabelac works I have heard, including the ones on the disc reviewed by Mark Lehman. Sound and performance are fine, and Jaroslav Mihule’s booklet notes are well written and informative.”
American Record Guide, March 2023

“Pianist Miroslav Sekera delivers a sensitive performance that is perfectly supported by Marko Ivanović with the Prague RSO. The recording is quite fine—everything is clear and the dynamics are full. Extensive and informative booklet notes cap off this wonderful and generous offering of Kabeláč’s sometimes gnarly but often profound music.”
Fanfare, March 2023

“Marko Ivanovic conducts the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra with some distinction as part of an all-Kabeláč programme… I cannot recommend this Supraphon CD highly enough, but I should also point you in the direction of the same artists performing Kabelác’s highly impressive cycle of eight symphonies…”
Rob Cowan's Blog, May 2023

“Czech pianist Miroslav Sekera delivers a confident, technically accomplished performance of this piece. He receives outstanding support from his fellow countryman, conductor Marko Ivanović, and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (PRSO), who go on to give us superb readings of the other three selections.”
Classical Lost and Found, March 2023


Miloslav Kabeláč
1.	Mystery of Time. Passacaglia for Large Orchestra, Op. 31	25:32

Miloslav Kabeláč
2.	Hamlet Improvisation for Large Orchestra Op. 46	16:07

Miloslav Kabeláč Reflections Op. 49
3.	I.	00:48
4.	II.	03:03
5.	III.	01:40
6.	IV.	02:54
7.	V.	01:42
8.	VI.	01:46
9.	VII.	02:21
10.	VIII.	01:13
11.	IX.	02:05

Miloslav Kabeláč Metamorphoses II of the oldest Czech Hymn "Hospodine, pomiluj ny" Op. 58
12.	I.	02:27
13.	II.	03:11
14.	III.	03:46
15.	IV.	01:31
16.	V.	03:01
17.	VI.	02:59

Metamorphoses II of the oldest Czech Hymn "Hospodine, pomiluj ny" Op. 58

V.

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Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marko Ivanović, Miroslav Sekera

Kabeláč: Mystery of Time

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