Symphony No. 1 'Classical' / Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - CD

Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 'Classical' / Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 version on CD in Remastered edition. This particular edition was published in Czech Republic in publishing company Supraphon on 1. December 2013.

Karel Ančerl (1908-1973) was one of the two leading Czech conductors of the 20th century, together with Václav Talich. As he made the vast majority of his recordings for Supraphon and as the thirtieth anniversary of his death approaches, the label has decided to honour Ancerl's memory with a generously conceived project to reissue his works under the joint title Ancerl Gold Series. This is to include a total of 42 titles, each of which will undergo a comprehensive studio treatment and streamlining. On their release, they will be accompanied by expert musical documentation and erudite historical and aesthetic studies, as well as, of course, a wealth of photographic material. Ancerl's career was closely linked to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom he performed for eighteen seasons from 1950. Without underestimating in the slightest the immense contribution of Václav Talich and Rafael Kubelík in defining the Czech Philharmonic's performance style, it can be said that Karel Ancerl was the first Czech conductor to achieve a truly world-class status, and that he led his orchestra to sovereign virtuosity and international renown. His artistic performances were a perfect blend of thoughtful conception and meticulous attention to detail; equally, they were always underpinned by a detailed knowledge of the score and an ability to capture every aspect of its architecture, as well as a refined sense of style, a tremendous aural imagination and, last but not least, an admirably communicative gestural language. Indeed, Ancerl was able to convince his orchestra of the correctness of his approach, which in the world of conducting was probably the most essential prerequisite for success. Incidentally, Ancerl's era saw groundbreaking advances in recording technology, including the invention of the LP record and the subsequent huge expansion of orchestral recording commitments. Ancerl's brilliantly inspired recordings soon received due recognition in the form of prestigious international awards. Their updated reissues on CD format have continued to dazzle listeners ever since with their technical excellence and sheer sonic beauty. The current edition of volumes 7 to 12 of the Ancerl golden series focuses primarily on works of the Czech repertoire. Starting with the original, truly inimitable idiom of Leoš Janáček, the orchestra's sonic trajectory takes it through the music of the melodic greats Dvořák and Suk and into the twentieth century, exemplified by Kabeláč's and Hanus's sonic probes into the depths of philosophical and musical wit and the expressions of sunny joie de vivre in Bohuslav Martinů's masterpieces. The foreign repertoire is represented by Ancerl's delicious readings of symphonic debuts by Beethoven and Brahms, and an equally rewarding treatment of the challenge posed by the dazzling inventiveness of the youthful works of the daring neoclassical master Sergei Prokofiev, with several first-rate soloists, including Sviatoslav Richter, making this a truly memorable listening experience.

Album spans genres Classical, Neo-Classical and Czechoslovakian classics.