Topic: Vitezslaw Novak (1870-1949)

[kyjo]

I stumbled upon this rarity, and a good rarity it is. Nikotina is a ballet whose music is highly imaginative, quirky, frolicsome, and I could say it's significantly tuneful too. It's been a pretty agreeable discovery. Something bad about it is the only track for the 52 minutes of this work. Not very helpful actually. Toman and the Wood Nymph is the another work, and I think it's a better performance than that on Chandos. This may not be the most memorable stuff out there, but I do find it voluptuous, dramatic, atmospheric with a rich orchestration and that's enough to enjoy it very much, for me anyway.

I haven't heard Nikotina yet, but I have heard his other ballet-pantomime Signorina Gioventu which was an absolutely stunning discovery of mine about a month ago:

All the adjectives you used to describe Nikotina could easily be used to describe Signorina Gioventu; this is enormously colorful, inventive, tuneful, and engrossing music. I loved every minute of it! I thought it was more melodically distinctive than, say, his tone poems, much as I enjoy those.

[vandermolen]

I haven't heard Nikotina yet, but I have heard his other ballet-pantomime Signorina Gioventu which was an absolutely stunning discovery of mine about a month ago:

All the adjectives you used to describe Nikotina could easily be used to describe Signorina Gioventu; this is enormously colorful, inventive, tuneful, and engrossing music. I loved every minute of it! I thought it was more melodically distinctive than, say, his tone poems, much as I enjoy those.

Two more on my discovery list!

[Symphonic Addict]

A new release on Supraphon featuring his Piano Concerto in E minor. I'm not aware of another recording of it.

[vandermolen]

A new release on Supraphon featuring his Piano Concerto in E minor. I'm not aware of another recording of it.

Oh wow! Have to have this one. Hopefully someone will record his 'Autumn Symphony' and the 'May Symphony' one day. I notice though that the PC is an early work (1896) and my favourites are works like De Profundis and the South Bohemian Suite written later on in his career. Having said that, his masterpiece 'The Storm' and 'Pan' we're both from 1910.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I've been wanting to acquire more of Novak's music.  Believe that all that I have of his music is:  Sonata for Cello and Piano (on a mostly Kodaly CD with Jiri Barta) and one song on a disc of Magdalena Kozena's entitled "Songs My Mother Taught Me".

On my wish list for a while:  In the Tatra Mountains.

Any other truly mosts that you would suggest for me for now?

PD

[relm1]

Oh wow! Have to have this one. Hopefully someone will record his 'Autumn Symphony' and the 'May Symphony' one day. I notice though that the PC is an early work (1896) and my favourites are works like De Profundis and the South Bohemian Suite written later on in his career. Having said that, his masterpiece 'The Storm' and 'Pan' we're both from 1910.

Are the May and Autumn Symphonies any good?  Like you, my favorite of his is The Storm but I also like De Profundis so pretty much his mid to late period but haven't heard anything chronologically after De Profundis.

[vandermolen]

Are the May and Autumn Symphonies any good?  Like you, my favorite of his is The Storm but I also like De Profundis so pretty much his mid to late period but haven't heard anything chronologically after De Profundis.

Never heard them so I don't know. The South Bohemian Suite and the 8 Nocturnes for Voice and Orchestra are other favourites as well as 'In the Tatras' and 'Pan' (both piano and orchestral versions).

[vandermolen]

I've been wanting to acquire more of Novak's music.  Believe that all that I have of his music is:  Sonata for Cello and Piano (on a mostly Kodaly CD with Jiri Barta) and one song on a disc of Magdalena Kozena's entitled "Songs My Mother Taught Me".

On my wish list for a while:  In the Tatra Mountains.

Any other truly mosts that you would suggest for me for now?

PD

See last couple of messages PD. 'The Storm' is an absolute must.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Will go back through! 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

great cd and piano version too

Any idea what CD this was?  No picture showing at my end...only a box with a question mark.

PD

[vandermolen]

Any idea what CD this was?  No picture showing at my end...only a box with a question mark.

PD

Hi PD, I can't find my original post and wonder if it disappeared during 'The Great GMG Forum Meltdown'. I think that I may have meant Novak's 'Pan' so maybe it was these two CDs which I like very much:
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[Pohjolas Daughter]

Thanks Jeffrey...I've been making a list (with photos too) to remind me of various people's likes.   

PD

[J]

Are the May and Autumn Symphonies any good?

No, would be my short answer, - not at all.  Lower drawer Novak in my estimation, and almost entirely forgettable.  You can hear the existing recordings on YT.

The YT commenters radically disagree with me, however, and seem to believe these are masterpieces.  I myself am indifferent, and done forever with them.

Worse music has been recorded, but that Novak's Symphonies have been passed over should not be a mystery.

[vandermolen]

No, would be my short answer, - not at all.  Lower drawer Novak in my estimation, and almost entirely forgettable.  You can hear the existing recordings on YT.

The YT commenters radically disagree with me, however, and seem to believe these are masterpieces.  I myself am indifferent, and done forever with them.

Worse music has been recorded, but that Novak's Symphonies have been passed over should not be a mystery.

Thanks Greg for alerting us to their existence on You Tube. I listened to most of the Autumn Symphony and sampled the May Symphony last night and have to reluctantly agree with you. Having said that, I preferred the Autumn Symphony which had some inspired passages. They both involve a chorus and I need to listen to them both again. Maybe the new Supraphon CD featuring the Piano Concerto will be my next port of call for Novak.

[Symphonic Addict]

Independently if both May and Autumn symphonies are or not top-drawer Novák I do want to hear them on performances and recordings that do do justice to them. What we have on YouTube regarding sound quality is frankly unbearable IMO. I prefer to wait the proper recordings to come, hopefully sooner than later (hey Naxos, Supraphon, Chandos, CPO, read this!) 🙏

[vandermolen]

Independently if both May and Autumn symphonies are or not top-drawer Novák I do want to hear them on performances and recordings that do do justice to them. What we have on YouTube regarding sound quality is frankly unbearable IMO. I prefer to wait the proper recordings to come, hopefully sooner than later (hey Naxos, Supraphon, Chandos, CPO, read this!) 🙏

Yes, that would be good.

[Irons]

From another age but this transmission on Czech television from 1966 is an aid to the appreciation of Novak's music.

https://youtu.be/siQuYu6VnOk?t=4

[relm1]

From another age but this transmission on Czech television from 1966 is an aid to the appreciation of Novak's music.

https://youtu.be/siQuYu6VnOk?t=4

Thanks for posting, I loved it!

[vandermolen]

Thanks for posting, I loved it!

+1

Although I prefer the South Bohemian Suite and am currently enjoying the new Naxos recording:

[Irons]

+1

Although I prefer the South Bohemian Suite and am currently enjoying the new Naxos recording:

Expected arrival today.