Jan Novák: Orchestral Music, Volume One
The music of the Moravian composer Jan Novák (1921–84) – a natural successor to Bohuslav Martinů, with whom he briefly studied – is nothing less than life-enhancing: it has Martinů’s rhythmic charge and his unflagging energy. And although Novák had such difficulties with the authorities in Communist Czechoslovakia that he chose to emigrate, there is an infectious optimism, a joie de vivre, in these three works that is instantly communicative.
Alice Rajnohová, piano (Tracks 1–3)
Vilém Veverka, oboe (Tracks 4–6)
Lucie Schinzelová, piano duet – primo (Tracks 7–9)
Kristýna Znamenáčková, piano duet – secondo (Tracks 7-9)
Ensemble Opera Diversa
Gabriela Tardonová, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
- I Allegro sostenuto. Allegro con spirito
- II Andante pastorale
- III Allegro
- I Allegro
- II Andante sostenuto
- III Allegro
- I Allegro energico
- II Lento
- III Allegro
Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra (1949)*
Concerto for Oboe and Chamber Orchestra (1952)*
Concentus biiugis for piano four hands and string orchestra (1977)
* FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘The soloists acquit themselves in style. Alice Rajnohová has the full measure of the Piano Concerto and Vilém Veverka, as one would expect of the Czech Lands’ leading oboist, plays with agility and tonal lustre. The two-piano team of Lucie Schinzelová and Kristýna Znamenáčková marry athleticism with sensitivity in their work. The orchestra is a new one to me, Ensemble Opera Diversa, a Brno-based ensemble well versed in new music and theatre projects, for whom the music of Novák is a central concern, and which is directed by Gabriela Tardonová. Though the works were recorded in 2015 and 2019 in two different locations you really wouldn’t know. Tardonová proves a splendid conduit for Novák’s music and the whole disc cements his reputation as the most notable and successful of all Martinů’s post-War students.’
—Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘The Ensemble are Brno-based and have made something of a speciality of playing this composer’s music. Certainly they sound very at home in the idiom. […]
Overall, another enterprising and valuable Toccata release – very well played and presented with care and dedication by all concerned. Future volumes will be fascinating to hear.’
—Nick Barnard, MusicWeb International
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide :
‘A splendid new disc that will really appeal to fans of Czech composer, Bohuslav Martinů. […] Jan Novak wrote a lot of really wonderful music in a kind of bubbly new-classical vein, It’s very approachable, very busy and exciting. […]
[These works] are delicious. Really, really lively, exciting fun pieces to listen to. Full of wonderful rhythms and spiky harmonies and really soulful lyrical interludes. I mean you really going to like it, if you know and like Martinů, you are really going to like this guy. […] It’s not slavish imitation. it really isn’t. It’s more like both composers were working in a similar school or similar aesthetics parameters. […]
[The oboe concerto] is really a lovely oboe concerto. […] It really is charming. It’s delightful. […] The Novak’s work is definitely one of the better concerti I’ve ever heard for an oboe. […] This [oboe concerto] is a wonderful performance. […]
[The ensemble is] really good. […] I cannot fault the playing at all. I really can’t.
[The pianist] is very, very good.
Boy, is [Concentus biiugis] fun. Og my goodness. […] It is completely exciting. I mean really exciting. […] There is Stravinsky, there is Martinů, There is a bit of Jazz, there is Czech folk music. It’s very, very fertile and eclectic mix of elements. Which means I really, really am looking forward to other issues in this series. […] It’s wonderful music, wonderfully played, beautifully recorded. […]
It’s a wonderful disc of orchestral music by a wonderful composer whom I really, really looking forward to getting to know better. […] In the meantime, [to know him better,] you may very well wanna start with this particular disc. You won’t be sorry.’
—David Hurwitz, The Ultimate Classical Music Guide