Smetana: Má vlast - Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik (DVD)

UPC: 880242723888

Product Features

• Title: Má vlast (My Fatherland) by Bedřich Smetana
• Conductor: Rafael Kubelik
• Orchestra: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
• Recorded: Live at the Herkulessaal der Residenz, Munich, 1984
• Running Time:Picture Format: NTSC, 4:3
  • Concert: 82 minutes
  • Bonus: 11 minutes (Introduction)
• Audio Formats:Region Code: 0 (Worldwide)
  • PCM Stereo
  • Dolby Digital 5.1
  • DTS 5.1
• Directed by: Hugo Käch
• Publisher: Unitel Classica, Medici Arts

Overview

This Unitel Classica DVD presents Bedřich Smetana’s Má vlast, conducted by the legendary Rafael Kubelik with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. The performance was recorded live at the Herkulessaal der Residenz in Munich in 1984, and is considered a deeply emotional and powerful rendition of Smetana’s symphonic cycle celebrating Czech national identity.

Kubelik, himself a Czech conductor, is uniquely qualified to interpret this iconic work, which consists of six symphonic poems, each representing different aspects of the Czech landscape, history, and legends. The DVD also includes an 11-minute introduction, offering insights into the significance of Má vlast and Kubelik’s connection to the piece.

Track Listing

1. Vyšehrad – The grand fortress of Vyšehrad and the rise and fall of its glory.
2. Vltava (The Moldau) – The famous journey of the Vltava River, passing through the Czech countryside.
3. Šárka – The legend of Šárka, a warrior woman who deceives and destroys her enemies.
4. Z českých luhů a hájů (From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields) – A portrait of the Bohemian countryside.
5. Tábor – Named after a city that became a center of the Hussite movement.
6. Blaník – The legend of the knights who sleep within Mount Blaník, ready to defend the Czech people in times of peril.

Interesting Facts

• Rafael Kubelik was renowned for his interpretations of Czech music, and Má vlast became one of the key pieces in his repertoire. This particular performance marks one of his most celebrated interpretations of the work.
• Smetana’s Má vlast was composed between 1874 and 1879 and reflects the composer’s deep patriotism and love for the Czech homeland. The cycle includes some of Smetana's most famous music, especially the second symphonic poem, Vltava (The Moldau).
• The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, under Kubelik’s direction, was described by critics as being in its "Golden Age," producing some of the most memorable performances during his tenure.

Publishers

• Unitel Classica
• Medici Arts
• EuroArts

Hashtags: #MáVlast #RafaelKubelik #BedřichSmetana #CzechMusic #SymphonieorchesterBayerischenRundfunks #ClassicalMusic #UnitelClassica #MediciArts #BohemianMusic