Weinberger's Svanda the bagpiper

[Sean]

A successful early 20th century opera by this Czech who died 1967- any thoughts? I just borrowed it; the only other of his works I know is the short orchestral Christmas.

[listener]

In the Smetana, Dvořak folksy mood.    There's an orchestral setting of the Round Dance and Polka (Fugue) that wants some extra trumpets at the end (+ organ), could be a great encore piece with a performance of the Janáček Sinfonietta.   The theme of the fugue seems to be lifted freom one by Cernohorsky

[Holden]

The well known polka is a strange piece - I can't hear any bagpipes in it

[Sean]

Thanks for that. Will let you know what I think in due course...

[Superhorn]

  There is a recording of the opera , but it's sung in a German translation.
    The late Hermann Prey is in the cast, but I can't recall the other members offhand, possibly Siegfried Jerusalem among them.
  The conductor is the late Heinz Wallberg leading the Munich Radio Orchestra (not the same as the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, and it was on the CBS/Sony label. I'm not sure if it's still available anywhere.
  I'd like to hear it.

[Sean]

Hi, the CD from my library, on its recent additions shelf, is conducted by Julian Reynolds and sung in the Czech.