In the United States, Bedrich Smetana's reputation rests almost entirely on his 1874 tone poem, The Moldau from Má Vlast, and the overture and dances from the 1866 opera The Bartered Bride. The latter pieces are included on this 2018 release by Darrell Ang and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, and as essential Smetana, they are much more than filler. But the featured work on this Naxos album is the little-known Festive Symphony, a work composed in 1854 in anticipation of Hapsburg rule under Emperor Franz Joseph. However, ...
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In the United States, Bedrich Smetana's reputation rests almost entirely on his 1874 tone poem, The Moldau from Má Vlast, and the overture and dances from the 1866 opera The Bartered Bride. The latter pieces are included on this 2018 release by Darrell Ang and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, and as essential Smetana, they are much more than filler. But the featured work on this Naxos album is the little-known Festive Symphony, a work composed in 1854 in anticipation of Hapsburg rule under Emperor Franz Joseph. However, with allusions to the Austrian imperial anthem included in the first two movements and stated fully in the Finale, Smetana's only symphony eventually fell out of favor among Czech nationalists. While this may be a minor historical point for modern listeners, the symphony's rudimentary development and bland thematic content are perhaps bigger stumbling blocks. Aside from the simple folk character of some of Smetana's melodies and his capable orchestration, this music lacks the...
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Add this copy of Smetana: Festive Symphony [Berlin Radio Symphony to cart. $29.28, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2018 by Naxos.
![Smetana: Festive Symphony [Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; Darrell Ang; Darrell Ang] [Naxos: 8573672]](https://www1.alibris-static.com/cover/o43551mn45u_t.jpg)
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