Smetana, Symphonic Poem 'Ma Vlast'

Bedřich Smetana, Symphonic Poem 'Ma Vlast' 2nd Mov. Vltava

Česká filharmonie (Czech Philharmonic) / Rafael Kubelík, cond.

Opening Concert of 1990 Prague Spring International Music Festival

12th May 1990 at Smetana Hall in Prague

 

Bedřich Smetana, Symphonic Poem 'Ma Vlast'

Česká filharmonie (Czech Philharmonic) / Rafael Kubelík, cond.

Opening Concert of 1990 Prague Spring International Music Festival

12th May 1990 at Smetana Hall in Prague

 

Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884): Fanfares from the Opera "Libuše" František Škroup (1801-1962): National Anthem of Czechoslovakia (combination of Kde domov můj (Czech) and Nad Tatrou sa blýska (Slovak)) Bedřich Smetana: Má vlast (My Country) 1. Vyšehrad 2. Vltava (Die Moldau) 3. Šárka 4. Z českých luhů a hájů 5. Tábor 6. Blaník

 

After the Communist coup in February 1948, Rafael Kubelik left Czechoslovakia and did not get back until it was liberated.   In 1985, severe arthritis caused Kubelík to retire from full-time conducting. The fall of Communism in his homeland led him to again conduct the Czech Philharmonic at the festival he had founded, the Prague Spring Festival. During rehearsal he told the Czech Philharmonic, "It is my joy to hear this. I always wanted it to sound like this but never really found it with any other orchestra in the world!”