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CD, Martinů (composer)
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Starting with motoric rhythmic energy, before turning to a more lyrical second theme, [No. 5] shows two faces of Martinů's composing personality. Both are beautifully and intensely conveyed... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 19th September 2025
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2025, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2025
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Martinů, Krása & Kalabis: Harpsichord Concertos
Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord), Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Liebreich
these excellent and committed performances get to the heart of these fascinating works. — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2023, Editor's Choice
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Winner - Concerto
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Gramophone Awards, 2023 Finalists, Finalist - Concerto
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Special offer. Czech Songs
RecommendedMagdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle
There are some real gems in this wide-ranging and carefully chosen selection of Czech songs. Dvořák’s Evening Songs are delightful with an unaffected simplicity that Kožená captures without... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 14th June 2024
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalists 2024
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Vocal Music
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Gramophone Awards, 2025 Shortlist, Voice & Ensemble
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Special offer. Martinu: The Complete Piano Trios
RecommendedRecorded at the Martínek Studio, Prague, between May 2015 and January 2016
Smetana Trio: Jitka Čechová (piano), Jiří Vodička (violin) & Jan Páleníček (cello)
it's already obvious that the music for piano trio performed here by the Smetana Trio is going straight on the shortlist for 2016. Martinu's chamber music reveals originality at every turn;... — More…
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2017, Chamber Winner
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BBC Music Magazine, June 2016, Disc of the month
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Special offer. Martinů: What Men Live By & Symphony No.1
RecommendedCzech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
This sounds throughout, even in the numinous calling of the Lord which conjures up the composer’s familiar spooky vein, like Martinů lite…There’s a performance of the First Symphony, Bělohlávek’s... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 19th October 2018
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2018
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Diapason d’Or, January 2019, Découverte
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Belohlavek and the orchestra are superb in the first three symphonies. He captures Martinu's shimmering, luminous orchestral textures and invests the pervasive 'sprung' rhythms of the faster... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2011, Disc of the Month
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Building a Library, May 2016, First Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2012, Winner - Orchestral
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Building a Library, September 2019, Recommended
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Special offer. Bohuslav Martinů: The Complete Works for Cello and Piano
Vilém Vlček (cello), Denis Linnik (piano)
Their way with the core repertoire here, the sonatas and variations, is mostly excellent. Outer movements are all well paced with genuine eloquence in the more reflective passages. — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2025, Recording of the Week
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New. Martinu Violin Concertos 1 & 2, Stravinsky Divertimento
Josef Spacek, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Petr Popelka
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The recording provides a fine balance between the instruments and as a whole these performances bring together affection and brilliance in persuasive readings that stand high in a strong field. — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, January 2023, Editor's Choice
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International Classical Music Awards, 2024, Nominated - Chamber Music
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Special offer. Martinů: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Lucy Crowe (soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Derek Welton (bass-baritone), Jan Martiník (bass), Simon Callow (narrator)
Czech Philharmonic Prague, Philharmonic Choir Vasilek, Manfred Honeck
All life is here in compressed mastery. Idiomatically conducted by Manfred Honeck and vividly recorded live in Prague’s Rudolfinum, this is the definitive performance of a 20th-century choral... — More…
Awards:
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The Times Records of the Year, 2017
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Record Review, 4th November 2017, Recording of the Week
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