A Festival of Fucik – Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi (2015) [TheClassicalShop FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

A Festival of Fucik – Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96kHz | Time – 01:19:42 minutes | 1,43 GB | Genre: Classical
Official Digital Download – Source: theclassicalshop.net | © Chandos Records
Recorded: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow; 16 and 17 February 2015

Thirty years after having recorded Dvořák’s complete Symphonies on Chandos, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and its laureate conductor Neeme Järvi tackle another romantic Czech composer: Julius Fučík, famous for his more than 400 polkas, marches, and waltzes, some of the best of which are featured here.
Fučík studied violin in his early years, switching later to the bassoon, with a subsidiary in percussion and timpani. Playing in Austrian regiments, he gained invaluable experience of writing for military band and became a very prolific composer of marches. The most famous of these is of course Entry of the Gladiators, completed in 1899 and performed throughout the world ever since.

Full of energetic, effervescent Bohemian crossrhythms, tuneful brass melodies (often now associated with a circus atmosphere), but also more lyrical expressions, this album is a festival in itself.

“Järvi and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra deliver this excellently recorded anthology with great enthusiasm, throwing themselves into these brightly coloured scores without a hint of condescension or irony…this is a highly enjoyable reminder of the delights of Romanticism’s popular side.” -BBC Music magazine

“Nicely crafted and highly enjoyable music, played with all the life and fizz it requires by Järvi and his Scottish-based colleagues. What he lacks in memorable melody he makes up for with swagger, immense charm and foot-tapping brio – and, my goodness, this career bandmaster certainly knew how to orchestrate. The sound picture is a Chandos spectacular.”—Gramophone

Tracklist:
Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fučík (1872 – 1916)
1. Marinarella, Op. 215 11:00
2. Onkel Teddy (Uncle Teddy), Op. 239 (version for orchestra) 4:54
Donausagen, Op. 233
3. Andantino 3:05
4. I. Tempo di valse 1:47
5. II. Con dolcezza 1:51
6. III. 1:25
7. Coda 2:10
8. Die lustigen Dorfschmiede (The Merry Blacksmiths), Op. 218 2:37
9. Der alte Brummbar (The Old Grumbler), Op. 210 5:02
10. Einzug der Gladiatoren (The Entry of the Gladiators), Op. 68, “Triumph March” 2:39
11. Miramare, Op. 247 7:50
12. Florentiner Marsch (Florentine March), Op. 214, “Grande marcia Italiana” 5:22
13. Wintersturme (Winter Storms), Op. 184 (arr. P. Stanek for orchestra) 9:23
14. Hercegovac, Op. 235 2:59
15. Regimentskinder (Children of the Regiment), Op. 169 3:03
Ballettratten, Op. 226
16. Allegretto 1:25
17. I. Tempo di valse 1:48
18. II. Meno con delicatezza 1:23
19. III. Meno mosso 1:36
20. Coda 1:54
21. The Mississippi River, Op. 160 (161) 2:47
22. Unter der Admiralsflagge (Under the Admiral’s Flag), Op. 82 3:46