Live recordings
Vítězslav Novák: Eternal Longing, Op. 33
Josef Suk: Praga, Op. 26
A.D. 2002
The opening concert of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra season 2002-2003
in memory of Antonín Dvořák
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor
Jiří Bělohlávek
live on 7th September 2002, Spanish Hall, Prague
The concert celebrated the anniversary of Dvořák´s birth with performances of works by two of his dearest and most talented pupils who became composers in their own right. The other part of the concert featured one of Dvořák´s own masterpieces, the Cello Concerto, see L30.
The two works were written in 1904, the year of Antonín Dvořák´s death.
Writing the symphonic poem Eternal Longing, Vítězslav Novák (1870 - 1949) was inspired by H.C.Andersen´s fairytale in which a tired swan, swimming on the sea´s surface, is longing to fly towards the sky and follow her flock. Finally she gathers enough strength to fly on. The swan is a symbol of human soul longing for an ideal. Eternal Longing ranks among Novák´s most impressionistic works.
Josef Suk (1874-1935) was Dvořák´s pupil and also his son-in-law. The symphonic poem Praga gives a vivid description of the beauty and majesty of Prague, it is a vision of a great city where the present mingles with the glorious past. We can almost feel the strong contour of spires and steeples emerging from the mists. Suk dedicated the piece to the Royal City of Prague.
The two works were written in 1904, the year of Antonín Dvořák´s death.
Writing the symphonic poem Eternal Longing, Vítězslav Novák (1870 - 1949) was inspired by H.C.Andersen´s fairytale in which a tired swan, swimming on the sea´s surface, is longing to fly towards the sky and follow her flock. Finally she gathers enough strength to fly on. The swan is a symbol of human soul longing for an ideal. Eternal Longing ranks among Novák´s most impressionistic works.
Josef Suk (1874-1935) was Dvořák´s pupil and also his son-in-law. The symphonic poem Praga gives a vivid description of the beauty and majesty of Prague, it is a vision of a great city where the present mingles with the glorious past. We can almost feel the strong contour of spires and steeples emerging from the mists. Suk dedicated the piece to the Royal City of Prague.
director: Adam Rezek
time: 44 min.