Josef Suk - Many Pupils Of Antonin Dvorak [CD]

A look at the great talent of Dvorak's pupils in an original selection of famousand less famous worksThe present compilation - a sequel to the 3CD set The Many Loves of AntoninDvorak - is intended as a timely reminder of the wealth and sheer diversityof talented Czech composers who emerged from Dvorak's masterclass atthe Prague Conservatoire during the 1890s and early 1900s. Dvorak,approaching fifty and at the height of his fame, had been persuadedto devote some of his time to teaching at the Conservatoire, thereby creatinga lasting legacy, an influential "Dvorak School" of composers, several of whomwent on to teach at the Conservatoire themselves, passing on the traditionto future generations. Naturally, the most room is given to Josef Suk,the pupil of Dvorak who left the most original legacy of compositions.A separate CD is devoted to Dvorak's lesser-known pupils: the talentedmelodist Oskar Nedbal won fame for his operettas, and Julius Fucik iscelebrated for his witty marches, while the legendary violinist Jaroslav Kocianwrote music for his own instrument, and the Czechoslovak Legionnaire RudolfKarel was an exemplary patriot. Also of interest are composers who areentirely forgotten apart from a single work of greater significance, like AdolfPiskacek, Vojtech Kuchynka, and Arnost Praus. A third CD belongsto the underappreciated master Vitezslav Novak, whose distinctivemodernism builds upon Dvorak in an interesting manner. Once again, thereis an excellent selection of music from the Supraphon catalogue with all ofthe most important names such as the violinist Josef Suk, the pianist IvanMoravec, and the conductors Vaclav Talich, Karel sejna, and Libor Pesek.Other outstanding performers on this compilation include Igor Ardashev,Jan Panenka, Emil Leichner, Josef Vlach, Josef Veselka, Karla sroubek, VaclavSnitil, Richard Novak, Beno Blachut, Ivan Kusnjer, and many others. The Englishmusic journalist Patrick Lambert, an important expert on Czech music withdeep knowledge of the Supraphon catalogue, selected the music and wrotethe insightful text in the booklet.