SMETANA: Smetana Quartet Plays Smetana (DVD)

Under the above eloquent title we are now releasing the second in a series of DVDs devoted to the legendary Smetana Quartet. This particular DVD features a short documentary entitled The Smetana, plus recordings of both of Bedřich Smetana's String Quartets: No. 1 in E minor, "From My Life", and No. 2 in D minor; coupled with Dvořák's Sextet in A major, Op. 48; and the programme is rounded off by a visual sequence called The Smetana Quartet: Chronology and Pictures. For its part, "The Smetana" documentary is divided into several parts: Prologue; Genesis; Ripening; "We Have Wandered In Foreign Lands..."; Epilogue; and a pictorial summary devoted to the ensemble's individual members: Jiří Novák (leader), Lubomír Kostecký (2nd violin), Milan Škampa (viola) and Antonín Kohout (cello). The DVD is subtitled in English and Japanese.

1. Dokumentary "Smetana Quartet" 57:26
Bedřich Smetana
2. String Quartet No. 1 in E minor From My Life 29:09
Bedřich Smetana
3. String Quartet No. 2 in D minor 18:50
Antonín Dvořák
4. Sextet for 2 Violins, 2 Violas and 2 Cellos in A major 32:27
5. Smetana Quartet Facts and Photos 05:00