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Review
The piece won an ovation in this performance, which was marked by consistently virtuosic playing from the orchestra and a sense of easy command from Belohlávek that typifies his control over the music of his homeland. You would have to look long and hard to find this level of advocacy for any composer. --The Guardian on the 4th Symphony
Martinu's symphonies tend to divide opinion and have not enjoyed anything like the same exposure as those of his Czech predecessor, Dvorák. But if anyone can find the key to their language, it is Jirí Belohlávek. These fine-tuned, dynamic performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra stem from a 2009 10 series at the Barbican. Doubters about the music perhaps need not apply, but there is plenty of freshness, verve and expressive wisdom on this set.**** --Daily Telegraph,04/08/11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
Anyone beguilled by the capabilities of the modern orchestra or who appreciates a good sense of musical fun should hear Martinu's Symphonies and this is now the recording to turn to. **** --Classic fm Magazine,Oct'11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
In short ,Belohlavek and the BBC SO are now my top recommendation for the Martinu symphonies. RECORDING OF THE MONTH EDITORS CHOICE --Gramophone,Oct'11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
The finest now available. --IRR,Nov'11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
Martinu's symphonies tend to divide opinion and have not enjoyed anything like the same exposure as those of his Czech predecessor, Dvorák. But if anyone can find the key to their language, it is Jirí Belohlávek. These fine-tuned, dynamic performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra stem from a 2009 10 series at the Barbican. Doubters about the music perhaps need not apply, but there is plenty of freshness, verve and expressive wisdom on this set.**** --Daily Telegraph,04/08/11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
Anyone beguilled by the capabilities of the modern orchestra or who appreciates a good sense of musical fun should hear Martinu's Symphonies and this is now the recording to turn to. **** --Classic fm Magazine,Oct'11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
In short ,Belohlavek and the BBC SO are now my top recommendation for the Martinu symphonies. RECORDING OF THE MONTH EDITORS CHOICE --Gramophone,Oct'11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
The finest now available. --IRR,Nov'11
You won't find a more persuasive champion than Belohlavek,who has the music in his blood. His skill at unravelling Martinu's rhythmic and textual knots-evidenced tme and again in these live performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra-is such that you immediately sense the statue of the music.The best place to start is the Fourth Symphony:in Belohlavek's hand it sizzles-especially the Allegro vivo,a motorised march that generates fabulous momentum. **** --Financial Times,30/07/11
CD Description
Recorded live at the Barbican in London, these recordings represent the first complete CD cycle of Martinus symphonies conducted by Jirí Belohlávek. The critically acclaimed concerts were given to mark the 50th anniversary of Martinus death in 1959. Martinus six symphonies are a major contribution to 20th-century symphonic literature, and yet are still undervalued. Spanning the years before, during and after the Second World War, they capture the turmoil, hopes and fears of the composer and his homeland a homeland that suffered unimaginable cruelties under the Nazis. At the end of the war, Martinu was the only major Czech composer of his generation to have survived. Yet through the underlying currents of menace in the later works, the irrepressible Czech spirit survives, and the countrys folk music is never far from the surface in these powerful and sincere works. As conductor Jirí Belohlávek says I personally love all of Martinu°s symphonies for the rich, colourful orchestration and undeniable Czech flair which always prevail in them, despite the fact that they also reflect the musical developments of their time. Advertising for this release will appear in Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine, as well as the Martinu° Society Magazine, which goes out to members worldwide.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Czech conductor Jiri Belohlavek first recorded a Martinu Symphony over thirty years ago, and has recorded all of them except the Second before these recordings made during the celebrations in 2009/10, in some cases several times. These performances show the results of a lifetime dedication to the composer, and also of his work with the BBC Symphony Orchestra over his years as chief conductor. The recorded sound is fine - these are live performances but there is no sign of audience noise. As a complete set of symphonies it easily takes first place. There are individual performances from earlier periods on CD by conductors such as Ancerl, Munch and Turnovsky which hold their place, and always will, but amongst more recent issues these performances are not only unbeatable as a set but also in the case of the individual symphonies. It is interesting to compare the performances with those by the Czech Philharmonic with the same conductor, and that set, from Supraphon, should soon be complete also. Martinu had himself been a member of the Czech orchestra, who sometimes show particular insight into a phrase or aspect of balance, but the BBC orchestra in these performance on Onyx seem to win on enthusiasm and, surprisingly, in some places also on virtuosity.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just to echo the other two reviews - this is an astounding set. I am not given to talking about a best account or best set. I like to hear different views of great music (and this is surely great music). But in this case I think it is more or less certain that these accounts sweep the field. Belohlavek gives us a Martinu who is clearly one of the greats of the last century - not just an interesting byroad - and these works have never sounded so important or rewarding. The sound is very good. The playing is first rate. And Belohlavek's instincts take us straight to the narrative pulse that runs through these works (a pulse that Jarvi's more atmospheric approach, for example, chooses to almost ignore). I retain a strong affection for Jarvi's set - it exerts quite a spell - but this feels like a more reliable recommendation. There is magic aplenty, here, but Martinu's symphonies have also never sounded so symphonic. The set is well worth the CD price. The download is a bargain.
13 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have been a Martinu officionado for many years. Sadly, there are very few recordings of the complete symphony cycle, of which only Blomstedt and an elderly Supraphon recording were of any import. I am sure that the main reason for this is that of nationality, in that few can ever get beyond Dvorak. I am equally sure that this will change because of these superlative performances. Martinu's approach to music was unique. For me, the nearest composer is Bruckner with a hint of Schumannic lyricism. But any similarity ends with Martinu's orchestration which is rich beyond measure; a control of rhythm equal to Beethoven himself; orchestration in which waves gather and grow with smaller waves emanating all around; a philosophic notion equal to Mahler together with soft touching lyrical passages of great beauty.
The conducting is flawless, the playing is flawless, and the whole is an entirely fresh approach which demonstrates the huge talent that Martinu possessed. If you have read this far, I strongly urge you to buy this set - it will stay with you for many years to come.
And furthermore a 'snip' at £14 for the MP3 collection.
The conducting is flawless, the playing is flawless, and the whole is an entirely fresh approach which demonstrates the huge talent that Martinu possessed. If you have read this far, I strongly urge you to buy this set - it will stay with you for many years to come.
And furthermore a 'snip' at £14 for the MP3 collection.
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