MARTINŮ’S MADRIGALS

The new recording created by the Martinů Voices choir under the leadership of Lukáš Vasilek presents a collection of choral works by Bohuslav Martinů that he conceived for a chamber choir. His six choral cycles (Four Songs About Mary, Czech Madrigals, Five Czech Madrigals, Three Sacred Songs, Primrose and Madrigals) were composed within a broad time span of 1934—1959, the last one being finished shortly before his death. What they all have in common is the ingenious sensitivity with which Martinů was able to grasp a folklore text and endow it with a new, vivid music form, simple and majestic at the same time.

Together with Martinů Voices, choirmaster Lukáš Vasilek worked his way through Martinů’s auto­graphs, seeking to understand and fulfil the composer’s in­tentions including all the nuances in articulation and dynamics of the choral works. After the highly acclaimed choral recording of Martinů’s cantatas that Vasilek realised for Supraphon with the Prague Philharmonic Choir in 2016, this is yet another recording providing insight into the fascinating music world of Bohuslav Martinů.

This is how choirmaster Lukáš Vasilek commented on the recording: “The Martinů Voices chamber choir is a rather unique ensemble in that it focuses on Martinů’s music thoroughly and on long-term basis. His works can be heard at most of our concerts. This is why I dare say that we have contributed something new thanks to our interpretation which is not based on any previous tradition. Another aspect is that most listeners are not familiar with Martinů’s chamber choral compositions. The present cycles have been recorded only scarcely and the recordings are not widely available, so I believe that the present recording can finally make them known worldwide.”

Besides the Martinů Voices choir led by Lukáš Vasilek, the recording features violinist Jakub Fišer and pianist Karel Košárek. It is going to be published by the Supraphon label on 19 January 2018 both on a CD and in MP3, FLAC and Hi-Res digital formats with the support of Bohuslav Martinů Foundation and OSA Partnership Programs.

http://martinuvoices.cz/