Dvořák: Violin Concerto, Romance; Suk: Fantasy, A Fairy Tale - Josef Suk; Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Antonín Dvořák - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 53; Romance for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 11; Josef Suk - Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 24; Fairy Tale, Op. 16 / The Constant Love of Radúz and Mahulena and Their Trials*

Josef Suk - violin; Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor: Václav Neumann

A living legend, Josef Suk is rightly considered the most distinguished representative of the 20th-century Czech violin school. His peerless, rich and beautiful tone has been captured on countlessother albums. In the year in which Suk celebrated his eightieth birthday Supraphon released his splendid new recording, featuring some of the chamber works of the artist's grandfather and great-grandfather, respectively - Josef Suk and Antonín Dvořák (SU 3976-2). Suk has taken great care to preserve the artistic legacy of his two celebrated ancestors throughout his life. In a sensitively remastered form, this CD brings the legendary recordings of Dvořák's Concerto in A minor and Suk's Fantasy from the golden era of the soloist and Neumann's Czech Philharmonic Orchestra alike. Not even Joseph Joachim, the most famous violinist among Dvořák's contemporaries, ventured to perform the concerto. Yet the recording that originated almost one hundred years laterdemonstrates that the work ultimately found the most competent hands and heart it could possibly find.

True legends - Josef Suk performing Dvořák's Violin Concerto and Suk's Fantasy.

Reviews
“The passionate projection and razor-like „edge“ of Suk's playing bring out all the temperament and local colour that his grandfather (the composer Josef Suk) and great-grandfather (Dvorak) were famous for.“
Gramophone, August 2011

“Think of a Czech counterpart to Russia's David Oistrakh: there's the same huge fullness and weight of sound, with technical immensity to match, plus a darkly beautiful tone-quality that goes straight to the music's lyrical heart. Add to this the Czech Philharmonic in its finest vintage ever, with a magnificent conductor at the helm, and you have some unforgettable music-making.“
Classic FM, August 2011

Antonín Dvořák
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 53, B 108
1. Allegro, ma non troppo /att./ 11:09
2. Adagio, ma non troppo 10:30
3. Finale. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo 10:21

Antonín Dvořák
4. Romance for Violin and Orchestra in F minor, Op.11 (B.39) 13:05

Josef Suk
5. Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra in G minor, Op. 24 22:38

Josef Suk
A Fairy - tale. Suite from the Music to Julius Zeyer's dramatic Tale Radúz and Mahulena, Op. 16
6. About the Faithful Love of Radúz and Mahulena and their Sorrows (Adagio, ma non troppo) 10:39