Chandos
MusicWeb International Recommended

Sparks from Ashes - Czech Songs

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Details

Composer
Various
Artist
Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
Chandos
Released
Aug 08, 2025
Catalog #
CHAN 20338
UPC
0095115233825

About

Hailed by The Daily Telegraph as 'a voice of real distinction', Nicky Spence possesses unique skills as a singing actor and a rare honesty of musicianship, all of which has earned him a place at the top of the classical music profession. Admired in particular for his interpretation of the music of Janácek, he has appeared worldwide in the composer's operas. Performing here with the outstanding pianist Dylan Perez, he presents a varied programme of Czech and Slovak art song. Bela Bartok found his lifelong enthusiasm for folk music sparked whilst on holiday in Slovakia in 1904, when he heard a nursemaid singing. Village Scenes sets five folksongs from a large Slovakian collection published in 1915, and depicts various aspects of a country wedding. Jaroslav Kricka became a central figure in Czech musical life, occupying the posts of chorus master of the Czech Philharmonic and professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory, amongst others. His Three Fables are settings of traditional fairy tales. Vitezslava Kaprálová was a composer of great promise who died of TB in 1940, aged just twenty-five. She studied conducting with Václav Talich and composition with Vitezslav Novák before moving to Paris where she was taught by Bohuslav Martinu. Her song cycle Sparks from Ashes deals with themes of love - found, flourishing, and lost - as do the eighteen numbers of Dvorák's song cycle Cypresses. Written by Kaprálová four years later, the haunting Waving Farwell was inspired by having to leave Prague for her new life in Paris.

Critic reviews

  • “Spence gives a dramatic heartfelt performance accompanied by an always tuned-in Perez. There seems to be far more rejection, despair and introspection than bliss, elation and happiness in this young fellow’s life but Spence shades everything with care and there are much variety and nuance in his…”

    MusicWeb International, Recommended, November 2025

Tracklist 31 tracks

  1. 1 Sbohem a šáteček (Waving Farewell), Op. 14 (version for voice and piano) 06:08
    Track
    1
    Title
    Sbohem a šáteček (Waving Farewell), Op. 14 (version for voice and piano)
    Duration
    06:08
    Composer
    Vítězslava Kaprálová
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  2. 2 No. 1. Vy vroucí písně spějte (Sing fervent songs) 02:31
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 1. Vy vroucí písně spějte (Sing fervent songs)
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  3. 3 No. 2. V té sladké moci (When thy sweet glances) 01:59
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 2. V té sladké moci (When thy sweet glances)
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  4. 4 No. 3. V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest (Death reigns) 01:43
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 3. V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest (Death reigns)
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  5. 5 No. 4. Ó duše drahá jedinká (Thou only dear one) 01:18
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 4. Ó duše drahá jedinká (Thou only dear one)
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  6. 6 No. 5. Ó byl to krásný zlatý (Oh, it was a lovely golden dream) 02:49
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 5. Ó byl to krásný zlatý (Oh, it was a lovely golden dream)
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  7. 7 No. 6. Já vím, že v sladké naději (I know that on my love) 01:52
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 6. Já vím, že v sladké naději (I know that on my love)
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  8. 8 No. 7. Ó, zlatá růže, spanilá (O charming golden rose) 02:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 7. Ó, zlatá růže, spanilá (O charming golden rose)
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  9. 9 No. 8. O naši lásce nekvete (Never will love lead us) 02:06
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 8. O naši lásce nekvete (Never will love lead us)
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  10. 10 No. 9. Kol domu se ted' potácím (I wander oft) 01:32
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 9. Kol domu se ted' potácím (I wander oft)
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  11. 11 No. 10. Mě často týrá pochyba (Tormented oft by doubt) 02:06
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 10. Mě často týrá pochyba (Tormented oft by doubt)
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  12. 12 No. 11. Mé srdce často v bolesti (Downcast am I) 01:32
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 11. Mé srdce často v bolesti (Downcast am I)
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  13. 13 No. 12. Zde hledím na ten drahý list (Here gaze I) 01:35
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 12. Zde hledím na ten drahý list (Here gaze I)
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  14. 14 No. 13. Na horách ticho a v údolích ticho (Everything's still) 01:37
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 13. Na horách ticho a v údolích ticho (Everything's still)
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  15. 15 No. 14. Zde v lese u potoka (In deepest forest glade) 03:17
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 14. Zde v lese u potoka (In deepest forest glade)
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  16. 16 No. 15. Mou celou duší zádumně (Painful emotions pierce my soul) 02:12
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 15. Mou celou duší zádumně (Painful emotions pierce my soul)
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  17. 17 No. 16. Tam stojí stará skala (There stands an ancient rock) 02:06
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 16. Tam stojí stará skala (There stands an ancient rock)
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  18. 18 No. 17. Nad krajem vévodí lehký spánek (Nature lies peaceful) 01:57
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 17. Nad krajem vévodí lehký spánek (Nature lies peaceful)
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  19. 19 No. 18. Ty se ptáš, proč moje zpěvy bouří (You are asking why) 03:23
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 18. Ty se ptáš, proč moje zpěvy bouří (You are asking why)
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  20. 20 No. 1. Pri hrabaní (Szénagyüjtéskor, Haymaking) 01:16
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 1. Pri hrabaní (Szénagyüjtéskor, Haymaking)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  21. 21 No. 2. Pri neveste (A menyasszonynál, At the bride's) 01:38
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 2. Pri neveste (A menyasszonynál, At the bride's)
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  22. 22 No. 3. Svatba (Lakodalom, Wedding) 03:05
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 3. Svatba (Lakodalom, Wedding)
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  23. 23 No. 4. Ukoliebavka (Bölcsődal, Lullaby) 04:38
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 4. Ukoliebavka (Bölcsődal, Lullaby)
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  24. 24 No. 5. Tanec mládencov (Legénytánc, Lads' dance) 02:15
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 5. Tanec mládencov (Legénytánc, Lads' dance)
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  25. 25 No. 1. Ty staré písně v duši zní mi (Those Old Melodies Echo in My Soul) 02:57
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 1. Ty staré písně v duši zní mi (Those Old Melodies Echo in My Soul)
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Vítězslava Kaprálová
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  26. 26 No. 2. Jak na hedvábný mech (As Though on Silken Moss) 02:23
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 2. Jak na hedvábný mech (As Though on Silken Moss)
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Vítězslava Kaprálová
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  27. 27 No. 3. Ó zůstaň ještě, moje dívko drahá (Oh, Stay Yet, My Dear Girl) 03:04
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 3. Ó zůstaň ještě, moje dívko drahá (Oh, Stay Yet, My Dear Girl)
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Vítězslava Kaprálová
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  28. 28 No. 4. A táhnou myšlenky teskné (Melancholy Thoughts) 04:34
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 4. A táhnou myšlenky teskné (Melancholy Thoughts)
    Duration
    04:34
    Composer
    Vítězslava Kaprálová
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  29. 29 No. 1. O neposlušných kozlatech (The disobedient kid goats) 04:48
    Track
    29
    Title
    No. 1. O neposlušných kozlatech (The disobedient kid goats)
    Duration
    04:48
    Composer
    Jaroslav KřIčka
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  30. 30 No. 2. Pohádka o kohoutkovi a slepičce (The tale of the rooster and the hen) 04:29
    Track
    30
    Title
    No. 2. Pohádka o kohoutkovi a slepičce (The tale of the rooster and the hen)
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Jaroslav KřIčka
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez
  31. 31 No. 3. Jeřáb a volavka (The crane and the heron) 06:38
    Track
    31
    Title
    No. 3. Jeřáb a volavka (The crane and the heron)
    Duration
    06:38
    Composer
    Jaroslav KřIčka
    Performer
    Nicky Spence, Dylan Perez