CD: Historic Performances – Neumann

CD: Historic Performances – Neumann

Czech Philharmonic
Václav Neumann conductor

works by Antonín Dvořák (Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, and The Wild Dove, Op. 110) and Bedřich Smetana (Prelude to the Opera Libuše)

(Live recordings: Lucerne, 1984 and 1988)

Václav Neumann was one of the most distinguished conductors of the so-called Eastern Bloc. The long-serving chief conductor of the legendary Czech Philharmonic was principally regarded as an accomplished advocate of the music of his homeland, which he interpreted with a strong sense of form, love of detail, and a vocal espressivo, eschewing any sentimentality. This is also evident in these live recordings made in Lucerne, now released for the first time. In the summer of 1969, the Czech Philharmonic was the first orchestra from beyond the “Iron Curtain” to perform at the Lucerne Festival – naturally under Neumann’s baton.

The 32-page booklet in three languages contains a portrait of the conductor by Michael Struck-Schloen alongside previously unpublished photos from the festival archive.

The Historic Performances CD series presents live concert recordings of influential Festival artists. The sound quality of the original tapes has been painstakingly restored, and each release is accompanied by extensive documentation of its historical as well as artistic significance, together with photos and historical material from the Festival archives – a history of the Festival in sound.