Smetana: Má vlast / Bychkov, Czech Philharmonic

The Czech Philharmonic and its Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov present a new recording of Bedrich Smetana’s masterpiece Má vlast (My Homeland). The album celebrates both the bicentenary of Smetana's birth and, the start of 2024's Year of Czech Music which has been celebrated every ten years since Smetana's 100th anniversary in 1924. Má vlast (1874-1878) is a potent symbol of the Czech Republic's turbulent political history and has played an important role in the Czech national movement. Contemplating the landscape, history, and legends of Bohemia, Má vlast is best known for its world-famous Moldau melody. For Bychkov, who was born in Russia before emigrating to the United States, and now lives in France, the question of 'the homeland' is particularly poignant - how to take pride in the best of its heritage, while also coming to terms with its darker pages. For the Orchestra to revisit this seminal piece with Bychkov, with whom it has developed such a close working relationship over the past few years, makes the recording all the more personal and topical.

The Czech Philharmonic is one of the world’s orchestral gems, recognized for its rich tradition with the Czech masters as well as European repertoire. Semyon Bychkov who is internationally renowned for his interpretations of the core repertoire, began his tenure with the Orchestra at the start of the 2018/19 season. Together, they have so far recorded for Pentatone Mahler’s First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Symphonies (2022-2023), part of the complete Mahler cycle to be released by the label. The Orchestra is also featured on the album Folk Songs (2023) recorded by Magdalena Kožená and Sir Simon Rattle.

REVIEW:

This recording of Smetana’s symphonic poem cycle Má Vlast made classical best-seller charts in early 2024, even with numerous versions of the work available. The orchestral work Bychkov gets from the orchestra ranges from good to extraordinary. All the many details in this reading come through fine, and the end result is a fresh recording that will provide hours of pleasure over multiple hearings. Physical album buyers will get an elegant little note from Bychkov on exile and home.

-- AllMusic.com (James Manheim)