BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE RECORDING OF THE MONTH

The album featuring Antonín Dvořák's and Bohuslav Martinů's Piano Concertos, as performed by Ivo Kahánek and Bamberger Symphoniker conducted by Jakub Hrůša, received the Recording of the Month in the Christmas issue of BBC Music Magazine.

Exhilarating accounts of two Czech concertos
„There is no higher praise possible than to say that the spirit of Rudolf Firkušný hovers over this new relese … 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.“

The pianist Ivo Kahánek pointed out: „Earning the Recording of the Month accolade amidst global competition from such a prestigious publication as BBC Music Magazine is a great honour. Yet I am even more delighted by the fact that it is an immense compliment to Czech music as a whole, as some works have been unjustly underestimated. I would like to express my thanks to the reviewer for having understood our intents, to Supraphon for support and care, and, particularly, to Jakub Hrůša and the Bamberger Symphoniker for putting heart and soul into the recording…“

And the conductor Jakub Hrůša added: „Working with Ivo Kahánek has always involved the uttermost professionalism and human warmth – both, I think, resulting from his artistic humility. I am happy that our joint sincere and ardent endeavour, shared with the equally fervent Bamberger Symphoniker, to ‚serve‘ two geniuses of Czech music, Dvořák and Martinů, has earned such appreciation. First and foremost, we have paid tribute to the two brilliant composers. We were, of course, our own men in each and every bar, but our work primarily aimed to celebrate the extraordinary beauty of their works. In this respect, Ivo and I chime with each other – we strive to be servants of the letter and spirit of the pieces we perform, in all detail and overall expression. I look forward to getting together with Ivo again – and with Martinů and Dvořák too!“