quote:

Originally posted by Commontone:The only one I'm familiar with is "The Moldau," which is great. Could you recommend something else by him?

"The Moldau" is the second of six symphonic poems by Smetana known collectively as Ma vlast (My Fatherland). I'd recommend Kubelik with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It is a mono recording (Mercury Living Presence) from the early fifties, but it quite honestly sounds better than most of the stereo versions available...and the performance is outstanding.

I would also recommend Smetana's String Quartet No. 1 in E minor "From My Life". If you can find it paired with Cesar Franck's String Quartet in D major performed by the Juilliard String Quartet (Sony), that is the disc I would suggest.

Happy listening!

Try "THe Bartered Bride". I have forgotten too many of the others I used to know.

quote:

Originally posted by ivocaliban:
I would also recommend Smetana's String Quartet No. 1 in E minor "From My Life". If you can find it paired with Cesar Franck's String Quartet in D major performed by the Juilliard String Quartet (Sony), that is the disc I would suggest.

Apart from the Debussy, Ravel and Barber string quartets I don't know much about that genre, so I'll definitely check that out. Unfortunately the disc you mention is $30...think I might try the Amadeus Quartet disc, which is $8 used. Thanks!

I once owned the album Ivocaliban posted about. It is a masterful release for certain.

Listening to and absorbing Beethoven's 9th is probably the closest a person can come to understanding what "divine" really means.