Orchestral works, Vol. II.
RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Zdenĕk Fibich was one of the most important Czech composers of the second half of the nineteenth century, after his Czech predecessor, Smetana, and near-contemporary, Dvořák. His Symphony No 2 in E flat major, Op 38 is one of his greatest orchestral works, holding in perfect balance the dual influences of the Czech Nationalist School (and particularly Dvořák) as well as Austro-German models such as Schumann, Weber and Wagner. Most of the main themes derive from some of his own piano pieces but they are integrated and developed in masterly fashion. At Twilight is a lusciously scored orchestral piece, whilst the Idyll is gently melancholic.
Paul Corfield Godfrey: "This performance is excellent enough to withstand the most exalted competition. The recording is rich and full, giving full justice to the luscious scoring. The use of scholarly versions of the music…gives this new CD a real edge over its rivals, and one looks forward with pleasure to further issues in the series. The music of Fibich is yet another example of a composer who has tended to be lost to sight outside his native Bohemia". © 2014 MusicWeb International
