This new release presents live recordings of Bedrich Smetana's cycle "Ma vlast" ("My Country") from Collegium 1704 at the Prague Spring Festival 2021.
Bedrich Smetana's cycle "Ma vlast" ("My Country") is not only the culmination of his symphonic output, it also occupies a unique position in Czech music and conveys a very special message of national character for Czech society. Its six parts, of which "Vltava" (The Moldau) is the best known, all have geographical or historical references to special places or stories of the Czech Republic.
The performance of the entire cycle is always an unusual event in the Czech Republic and many of these performances are connected with important historical events. For example, since the first year of the Prague Spring Festival in 1946, "My Country" has been an integral part of the opening concert, traditionally on 12 May, the anniversary of Smetana's death.
In 2021, Collegium 1704, an orchestra from the field of historical performance practice, was invited, which once again gave the festival a special touch. The live recording of the two concerts (12th and 13th May 2021) at the Prague Spring Festival can now be heard on this recording.
The harpsichordist and conductor Vclav Luks founded the Prague baroque orchestra Collegium 1704 and vocal ensemble Collegium Vocale 1704 on the occasion of the project Bach Prague 2005.
Recently, it has received invitations from such prestigious presenters and concert halls as Salzburger Festspiele, Berliner Philharmonie, Theater an der Wien, Wiener Konzerthaus, BOZAR in Brussels, Chopin Festival in Warsaw, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Zaryade in Moscow, and it is an ensemble-in-residence at the Opra Royal in Versailles and Bachfest Leipzig.
In the field of opera, Collegium 1704 followed up on the international successes of its production of Handel's Rinaldo with performances of Myslivecek's L'olimpiade, nominated for the 2014 International Opera Awards, and of Vivaldi's Arsilda in modern-era world premiere. In February 2022 presented Hndels opera Alcina directed by J. Herman in co-production with ND Brno, Opra Royal de Versailles and Thtre de Caen.
Their recordings are popular with both listeners and music critics (Diapason d'Or, CD of the Month & Editor's Choice, and nominations for CD of the Year by Gramophone).
