Prague radio symphony orchestra –

Symphonic works

Within a mere few years, Petr Popelka has established himself as one of the world's most exciting young conductors. Serving as principal conductor of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Wiener Symphoniker, he has also appeared as a guest with prominent European and American orchestras, as well as at opera houses worldwide. Popelka does not view Bedrich Smetana's legacy as an obligatory Czech national classic, but rather as an object of love and vital artistic quest. His ultimate masterpiece, My Country, should be approached a bit like an opera, as a great story... As a cycle of tone poems based on the theme of the homeland, it is absolutely unique in the history of music. Most significantly, there is not a work written with greater love." Popelka's recording is not just yet another addition to the immense number of recordings of My Country. Bringing to bear his great musicality and acute sense of detail, the conductor and the orchestra have modelled a truly exceptional form. Popelka's album features other germs too. String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, "From My Life", hailing from Smetana's mature period, when the composer was completely deaf, in George Szell's brilliant orchestration. In contrast, Smetana's early music is represented by the Triumphal Symphony, dedicated to the wedding of the 24-year-old Emperor Franz Joseph I to Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria, and three "Swedish" Liszt-inspired symphonic poems, based on dramas as immense as Shakespeare's Richard III and Schiller's Wallenstein. The extraordinary album marks the 200th anniversary of Smetana's birth. Lovers of spatial sound will certainly relish streaming My Country in the Dolby Atmos format. Petr Popelka conducts Smetana - with love, deep feeling and sense for detail"

Country of Pressing	US
Artist	Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Released	2025
Music Genre	Classical
Label	SUPRAPHON
Condition	New
UPC	099925434724
SKU	al-099925434724

1.1 Richard III, Op. 11
1.2 Wallenstein's Camp, Op. 14
1.3 Hakon Jarl, Op. 16
1.4 String Quartet No. 1 in E minor From my Life"~I. Allegro vivo appassionato
1.5 String Quartet No. 1 in E minor "From my Life"~II. Allegro moderato à la polka
1.6 String Quartet No. 1 in E minor "From my Life"~III. Largo sostenuto
1.7 String Quartet No. 1 in E minor "From my Life"~IV. Vivace
2.1 Festive Symphony in E major, Op. 6~I. Allegro vivace
2.2 Festive Symphony in E major, Op. 6~II. Largo maestoso
2.3 Festive Symphony in E major, Op. 6~III. Scherzo. Allegro vivo
2.4 Festive Symphony in E major, Op. 6~IV. Finale. Allegro non troppo ma energico
3.1 Má Vlast~I. Vysehrad
3.2 Má Vlast~II. Vltava
3.3 Má Vlast~III. Sárka
3.4 Má Vlast~IV. Z ceských luhú a hájú / From Bohemian Fields and Groves
3.5 Má Vlast~V. Tábor
3.6 Má Vlast~VI. Blanik"