catalogue

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) was proud of his being Czech but he was also able to draw inspiration from all over the world. In many of his pieces he drew inspiration from the wide Slavic territory. The best known composition of the kind is the Slavonic Dances (the first eight of them, Op. 48, date back to 1878, the second eight, Op. 72, were finished in 1887). They include the Russian Dumka, the Polish Polonaise, the South Slavonic Round Dance, as well as Czech dances. They were originally composed for piano four hands, Dvořák soon arranged them for orchestra. In 1878 Dvořák composed three Slavonic Rhapsodies. The third one of them, in A flat major, is especially attractive with its romantic sound and excellent orchestration. The Solemn March dates back to the same period (1879). All these compositions abound in melodiousness, inventive and sometimes fiery orchestration and impressive rhythms. The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by its chief conductor Vladimír Válek bring out all the qualities of Dvořák´s music in full.