Hello from Barcelona Smetana's Ma Vlást was, in fact, my first encounter with classical music. I was a kid in a then small fishing town in Costa Brava and attended private lessons at the school of an aged lady who had been teaching generations of children. We were under Franco's regime at that time, and that lady was branded as a acommunist sympathizer by many. She never instilled any political ideas in our brains, though. She was a spinster and lived alone with eight cats around the house, but in spite of everything, everybody respected her on account of her skills as a teacher; she was really good. She used to listen to Radio Prague, broadcasting in Spanish from what was then Czechoslovakia, under the communist regime, and one day she received Ma Vlást on vinyl, a gift sent to her by that radio station. It was a Supraphon release. She was excited and played the record for all her pupils to hear, describing each movement. It was amazing. That was the beginning. It would be interesting to hear you talk about the Supraphon releases in those days. Thank you, David
@@mgconlan I wish I could tell. I was so very young then, and the record did'nt belong to me. I'd really like to listen to this performance by Tálich. Thank you very much for your information.
I’m pleased to hear about this rerelease. I owned the original Turnabout discs as a college kid. My recollection is the sound was quite good, if a bit distant. Yes, the 1970s vintage pressing was pretty grungy. The set was one of my favorites. I assume that Naxos will rerelease Side 4 of the original set, which contained the usual Bartered Bride snippets. I hope that Naxos will rerelease Susskind’s quite good Shostakovich 1 and 9, recorded with the Cincinnati Symphony and issued on Vox’s more upscale Cum Laude series.
And let's not forget Also Sprach Zarathustra which was the one Susskind/St. Louis recording, in addition to a single Dvorak Slavonic Dance, that was never previously released on CD by Vox. At least as far as I can determine.
Oh yes Turnabout - spent my pocket money on an imported Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures and Night on a Bare Mountain with St Louis and Slatkin. Spectacular lp. Actually getting back to Susskind, loved his recording of Prokofiev's Chout with the LSO on Everest - what a great under the radar conductor.
Thanks, Dave! I've always loved those Vox recordings! One question I have, and perhaps someone around here has compared them, is whether they're an improvement sonically over the (already marvelous sounding) MoFi SACDs?
This set was actually the first complete Ma Vlast that I owned, on LP. I liked the performance but the recorded sound was murky and dim. I got the Kubelik/CSO set on LP and was startled by the sonic differences (in clarity and dynamic range). After getting later recordings by Pesek and Berlin’s, and two remakes by Kubelik(BRSO and BSO) I didn’t return to Susskind. Based on this review I will give Susskind a fresh listen.
I noticed that there’s a Beethoven performance under Susskind’s successor and Slatkin’s predecessor, Jerzy Semkow. It has the Choral Fantasy and some shorter works. But it has a previously unreleased Emperor Concerto with Walter Klien from 1978. I really enjoyed it, and I look forward to your thoughts if you review it. It’s streaming, not on disc yet. Hopefully they’ll release Susskind’s Also Sprach and Semkow’s Scherazade… which I don’t know on cd.
I see that the Emperor is listed on the Naxos web site but only on streaming services. Bummer. Sadly, many "labels" now view streaming & or downloads as equivalent to a CD issue. They remain out of reach to many who cannot justify the expense of investing in expensive new equipment.
Ivo Kahanek Czech article interview: "Smetana is no cinderella next to Liszt." Can imagine David making a title about some conductors - cinderella category :)
@@DavesClassicalGuide resubmitting my request for a review of the new Seattle/Morlot Des Canyons aux Étoiles, I don’t know if my positive response is because I like the piece or because the new recording is actually good!
Spawned by this video, I so much wish for EMI, now Warner, to dig into their archives, and present us with box sets of complete recordings of what they themselves probably would consider second tier conductors (albeit, they are not!) of the '50s and early '60: Susskind, Kletzki, Efrem Kurtz, Lovro von Matačić, maybe even a Malko box (if his recordings can't be contained in a twofer?). And rerelease the Icon William Steinberg box so long nla. Well, as long as they haven't given us the complete Beecham recordings (with whatever extra material, they can unearth), that we all pine for, my request might be nothing, but the chimera of wishful thinking!
Bingo! I took a gamble on this disc some years ago and wasn't disappointed. I had only seen Susskind's name on an old RCA LP with Rubinstein in the Paganini Rhapsody and Szymanowski's Symphonie Concertante. Thought he was a B or C lister, not one of the A list glamour boys. Youthful ignorance and prejudice on my part. He also does what I think is a crackerjack Planets that is paired with it in a Vox box release. Did you mean to say this one I have is a poor transfer? or were you referring to the LP?
Hello from Barcelona
Smetana's Ma Vlást was, in fact, my first encounter with classical music.
I was a kid in a then small fishing town in Costa Brava and attended private lessons at the school of an aged lady who had been teaching generations of children.
We were under Franco's regime at that time, and that lady was branded as a acommunist sympathizer by many. She never instilled any political ideas in our brains, though.
She was a spinster and lived alone with eight cats around the house, but in spite of everything, everybody respected her on account of her skills as a teacher; she was really good.
She used to listen to Radio Prague, broadcasting in Spanish from what was then Czechoslovakia, under the communist regime, and one day she received Ma Vlást on vinyl, a gift sent to her by that radio station. It was a Supraphon release. She was excited and played the record for all her pupils to hear, describing each movement. It was amazing.
That was the beginning.
It would be interesting to hear you talk about the Supraphon releases in those days.
Thank you, David
Was that the 1954 recording (his third) with Václav Tálich as conductor? That's the best "Ma Vlast" ever, in my not-so-humble opinion.
@@mgconlan I wish I could tell. I was so very young then, and the record did'nt belong to me. I'd really like to listen to this performance by Tálich. Thank you very much for your information.
Turnabout! My youth and student budget! Thanks Dave.
I noticed that Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab also released a SACD of it.
I recall seeing it in the mall record stores in the 1980s in a Vox CD reissue-one of those cardboard CD Wallet things.
My first, and preferred "Ma Vlast" that is still in my collection.
I sense a new series. You could call it "Cheap Thrills." Discs of past performances, from the bargain bins.
I’m pleased to hear about this rerelease. I owned the original Turnabout discs as a college kid. My recollection is the sound was quite good, if a bit distant. Yes, the 1970s vintage pressing was pretty grungy. The set was one of my favorites. I assume that Naxos will rerelease Side 4 of the original set, which contained the usual Bartered Bride snippets. I hope that Naxos will rerelease Susskind’s quite good Shostakovich 1 and 9, recorded with the Cincinnati Symphony and issued on Vox’s more upscale Cum Laude series.
And let's not forget Also Sprach Zarathustra which was the one Susskind/St. Louis recording, in addition to a single Dvorak Slavonic Dance, that was never previously released on CD by Vox. At least as far as I can determine.
This Ma Vlast sounds amazing and totally idiomatic!!! Thanks for paying attention to this one
Oh yes Turnabout - spent my pocket money on an imported Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures and Night on a Bare Mountain with St Louis and Slatkin. Spectacular lp. Actually getting back to Susskind, loved his recording of Prokofiev's Chout with the LSO on Everest - what a great under the radar conductor.
Thanks, Dave! I've always loved those Vox recordings! One question I have, and perhaps someone around here has compared them, is whether they're an improvement sonically over the (already marvelous sounding) MoFi SACDs?
This set was actually the first complete Ma Vlast that I owned, on LP. I liked the performance but the recorded sound was murky and dim. I got the Kubelik/CSO set on LP and was startled by the sonic differences (in clarity and dynamic range). After getting later recordings by Pesek and Berlin’s, and two remakes by Kubelik(BRSO and BSO) I didn’t return to Susskind. Based on this review I will give Susskind a fresh listen.
Sorry- Pesek and Berglund
That is a fantastic recording 👍
I have it coupled with the Planets on Vox, and they are well done.
I noticed that there’s a Beethoven performance under Susskind’s successor and Slatkin’s predecessor, Jerzy Semkow. It has the Choral Fantasy and some shorter works. But it has a previously unreleased Emperor Concerto with Walter Klien from 1978. I really enjoyed it, and I look forward to your thoughts if you review it. It’s streaming, not on disc yet. Hopefully they’ll release Susskind’s Also Sprach and Semkow’s Scherazade… which I don’t know on cd.
I see that the Emperor is listed on the Naxos web site but only on streaming services. Bummer. Sadly, many "labels" now view streaming & or downloads as equivalent to a CD issue. They remain out of reach to many who cannot justify the expense of investing in expensive new equipment.
@@jerrygennaro7587 Agreed. I'd buy this for sure. I don't NEED another Emperor, but I was pleased by this and would love to own it on cd.
Ivo Kahanek Czech article interview:
"Smetana is no cinderella next to Liszt."
Can imagine David making a title about some conductors - cinderella category :)
Oooh! Can’t wait to give this a listen.
Are you going to review the new one with Bychkov and the Czech Phil?
Hopefully.
@@DavesClassicalGuide resubmitting my request for a review of the new Seattle/Morlot Des Canyons aux Étoiles, I don’t know if my positive response is because I like the piece or because the new recording is actually good!
Spawned by this video, I so much wish for EMI, now Warner, to dig into their archives, and present us with box sets of complete recordings of what they themselves probably would consider second tier conductors (albeit, they are not!) of the '50s and early '60: Susskind, Kletzki, Efrem Kurtz, Lovro von Matačić, maybe even a Malko box (if his recordings can't be contained in a twofer?). And rerelease the Icon William Steinberg box so long nla.
Well, as long as they haven't given us the complete Beecham recordings (with whatever extra material, they can unearth), that we all pine for, my request might be nothing, but the chimera of wishful thinking!
Bingo! I took a gamble on this disc some years ago and wasn't disappointed. I had only seen Susskind's name on an old RCA LP with Rubinstein in the Paganini Rhapsody and Szymanowski's Symphonie Concertante. Thought he was a B or C lister, not one of the A list glamour boys. Youthful ignorance and prejudice on my part. He also does what I think is a crackerjack Planets that is paired with it in a Vox box release. Did you mean to say this one I have is a poor transfer? or were you referring to the LP?