Ma Vlast

[hautbois]

Surprisingly, it is difficult to get a real good complete version of the symphonic poems cycle.
The 2 cd Harnoncourt/VPO has been getting rave reviews despite its extreme interpretation. I have heard Kubelik BSO, like it, but do not own it, and it is impossible to get in over here. Considering that the Harnoncourt is at a good discount price, should i get it? Will it give me the same experience (chills and thrills! Talk about a roller coaster ride!) which i have had with him doing the Dvorak symphonic poems with the Concergebouw?

Howard

[MishaK]

Get Kubelik/Czech PO. The electricity of the moment captured on that disc can't be beat. Everyone is playing their hearts out.

[karlhenning]

[SonicMan46]

Kubelik has recorded this work a number of times - got the two discs below:

These were made just over 40 yrs apart - the Mercury recording has phenomenal sound for its time; while the one performed in Prague in 1990 is 'live' - both are worthwhile - 

 

[AnthonyAthletic]

Kubelik's Supraphon is one I am still searching for, but can't find it at a decent enough price to indulge.

Worth considering are:

Antoni Wit: Polish National Radio S.O. - Naxos 8.550931
Sir Charles Mackerras: Czech PO 1999 - Supraphon SU 3465-2 031
Vaclav Smetacek: Czech P.O. - Supraphon 38C37 7241

I have the DG Levine on order as we speak 

[Todd]

Kubelik's Supraphon is one I am still searching for, but can't find it at a decent enough price to indulge.

Pretty much any price is decent enough; buy it now, I say!  It is the best out there.  All others are pretenders.

Kubelik has six recordings of the work that I am aware of, and I've heard five.  (There's a second from 1990 I've not heard.)  All but the Decca recording are highly commendable.  After that, Talich and Ancerl are the way to go.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I have this one:



Not sure whether this is the same as the other Kubelik/Czech PO/Supraphon mentioned earlier. I am pretty happy about it but I must admit I don't really like anything other than the first two tone poems in the cycle. I used to have the Kubelik/CSO recording also but somehow the mono recording robs the score of the required colors so I sold it. I also have the abovementioned Harnoncourt but don't feel motivated enough to listen to it.

[Todd]

Not sure whether this is the same as the other Kubelik/Czech PO/Supraphon mentioned earlier.

It's the same one; for some reason, Supraphon released the same recording with two different covers.

[Brian]

Antoni Wit: Polish National Radio S.O. - Naxos 8.550931

Wit's performance is expansive and lyrical and very fantasy-like, in a style that other interpretations seem to miss out on when they focus on drama, energy, and power. And at $7, I think it'd be comfortable for the Ma Vlast beginner to order both the Wit version and another one (like Ancerl or Kubelik). There's great beauty in both approaches.   

EDIT: I guess I should annotate a little. "Chills and thrills; a roller coaster ride" ... yes, Ma Vlast is surely this, and you'll get it aplenty in most recordings (especially Czech conductors; probably not Harnoncourt). The music - especially the last two movements, related to war heroes of the middle ages, and "Sarka", about an angry heroine who murders every man in the kingdom - is incredibly dramatic. All the more power to conductors like Harnoncourt and Antoni Wit who can make the music work in a totally different way: stressing the fantasy, the epic beauty and power, the glorious way the music unfolds.

The truth is that "Ma Vlast" is one of the great works of the 1800s, and if I had a million bucks I'd buy every CD mentioned so far in this thread.   

[jochanaan]

I'm sure all the Czech recordings are good; but the one I have is by Wolfgang Sawallisch and l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, recorded--I think--in the late '70s.  I might be interested in hearing the Harnoncourt/Vienna Phil set too, though.

[Rabin_Fan]

How is the "new" 1954 Talich compared to the old Supraphon CD mastering please? Anyone?

[val]

My favorite version of Ma Vlast is the one of Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonic. At least in Tabor, Blanik, Sarka, I never heard an interpretation at this level. Even "From Bohemia woods and fields" has here a very pure ans transparent version.

Of course, regarding the Vltava, there will be always the fabulous version of Ferenc Fricsay.

[Harry]

I consider the DGG recording from Kubelik a fine one, and Antony Wit on Naxos is not a bad contender either.

[hautbois]

Thus Antoni Wit! With that sort of price it is unbeatable, at least for now, because i can only locate Harnoncourt at my local store, which i will also consider in due time, received no real comment about it here.  Thanks for all the other recommendations though!

Howard

[Harry]

The Ma Vlast from Antony Wit, was well received by critics alike, and I found much favour in it!
So its a good investment!

[karlhenning]

I consider the DGG recording from Kubelik a fine one

BSO?

[Harry]

BSO?

Yes that's the one!

[hautbois]

Too bad i can't buy that BSO/Kubelik recording here anymore. My teacher has it and it was the first time i listened through the whole cycle, reading the score at the same time! (With a pair of great Philips headphones) How exciting i remembered!

Howard

[Wanderer]

Considering that the Harnoncourt is at a good discount price, should i get it? Will it give me the same experience (chills and thrills! Talk about a roller coaster ride!) which i have had with him doing the Dvorak symphonic poems with the Concergebouw?
Howard

I would say get it, if you feel the price is right. Compared to his Dvorak that you like, I'd say his Smetana is equally good.

[hautbois]

I bought the Antoni Wit at less than US$6 and what a great performance, the sonics are a bit fake because of the big inner reverb and the orchestra is not the best in the world, but boy does this satisfy. Thus i will go for the Harnoncourt next month!

Howard