Suk: Tale/Fantastic Scherzo

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Cross the openhearted geniality of Dvorák with the large scale and experimental fervor of Mahler and you have Josef Suk, a pupil of Dvorák whose life was changed forever when his wife (Dvorák's daughter) died young. The resulting anguish is where the Mahler element comes in. These works are not as filled with pain and grief as Suk's astonishing Asrael Symphony. In fact, the Scherzo is as happy as Dvorák's famous Scherzo capriccioso. But the broad range and sheer size of Summer Tale (about 50 minutes) are thoroughly Mahlerian, the music consistently involving and captivating. Mackerras, who studied under the great Czech conductor Vaclav Talich, is as completely attuned to Suk's idiom as the orchestra is, and the resulting performances, abetted by excellent sound, are real winners. Highly recommended, especially to lovers of late romanticism. --Leslie Gerber

Suk: Tale/Fantastic Scherzo, Music, Josef (composer) Suk, Sir Charles Mackerras, Orchestr Ceská Filharmonie, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Romantic Orchestral Music, Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra

Suk: Summer Tale / Fantastic Scherzo - Charles Mackerras / Czech Philharmonic
Average customer rating:

Gorgeous moments

Some parts are questionable

Enticed by Fantastic Scherzo, Moved by A Summer Tale

Massive and Mahlerian

Great music by a neglected composer

Suk: Summer Tale / Fantastic Scherzo - Charles Mackerras / Czech Philharmonic

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Suk: Asrael/Fairy Tale/Serenade

String Serenades

Dvorák: Legends

Novák: In The Tatra Mountains/Eternal Longing/Slovak Suite

Novák: Lady Godiva/De profundis/Toman and the Wood Nymph

ASIN: B00002MXNF
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

Summer Tale Op.29 : Voices of life and consolation
Summer Tale Op.29 : Noon
Summer Tale Op.29 : Intermezzo - Blind musicians
Summer Tale Op.29 : In the power of phantoms
Summer Tale Op.29 : Night
Fantastic Scherzo Op.25

Amazon.com

Cross the openhearted geniality of Dvorák with the large scale and experimental fervor of Mahler and you have Josef Suk, a pupil of Dvorák whose life was changed forever when his wife (Dvorák's daughter) died young. The resulting anguish is where the Mahler element comes in. These works are not as filled with pain and grief as Suk's astonishing Asrael Symphony. In fact, the Scherzo is as happy as Dvorák's famous Scherzo capriccioso. But the broad range and sheer size of Summer Tale (about 50 minutes) are thoroughly Mahlerian, the music consistently involving and captivating. Mackerras, who studied under the great Czech conductor Vaclav Talich, is as completely attuned to Suk's idiom as the orchestra is, and the resulting performances, abetted by excellent sound, are real winners. Highly recommended, especially to lovers of late romanticism. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous moments.......2007-07-03

I have only heard the Summer Tale portion, which is where the 4-star rating comes in rather than a 5-star. I heard it for the first time ever last week. I was drawn in by the haunting beauty of the duet by what must be english horns. And continued to be in awe of the gorgeous moments interspersed in this piece. Parts are typical 20th century-sounding stuff that I normally don't like, but then Suk drops in these absolutely gorgeous and melodious themes that are riveting and compelling. A big YES to this piece! Try it, you'll like it!

Some parts are questionable.......2005-09-13

Summer Tale Op.29 : "Voices of life and consolation" and Summer Tale Op.29 : "Noon" are difficult to hear. The music starts off very low in volume and then reaches a very loud pitch. I was disappointed in this section, but the rest of the CD was wonderful.

Enticed by Fantastic Scherzo, Moved by A Summer Tale.......2004-09-02

Like many classical music lovers, I was more familiar with Joseph Suk's biography than I was with his music. His happy years as a husband with a famous father-in-law (Antonin Dvorak) and the loss he felt when his wife died is a somewhat well known tale, as is the darkness of his music after he was widowed. Yet with the exception of his march "Toward a New Life" and perhaps his "Serenade for Strings," which is often paired on recordings with his father in law's work of the same title, I did not know any of his music. Then our local classical station, WCRB began playing "Fantastic Scherzo" with some regularity. I mistakenly thought it was a piece by Dvorak until I heard the announcer state the work's title. I decided this work is a must have, and so I purchased the recording.

My primary interest in the recording is "Fantastic Scherzo." Sir Charles Mackerras brings out the entire flavor this sumptuous and dreamy piece has to offer. It surprises me that the work is not a more popular concert piece and is not available on more recordings, yet I cannot imagine that the work would be significantly better handled by any other conductor.

Since I purchased the disc primarily for "Fantastic Scherzo," I was not all that interested in "A Summer Tale," at least at first. One day while driving, I decided to give it a listening to, and was amazed at its beauty and complexity. While "Fantastic Scherzo" is a lighter work, reminiscent of his famous father-in-law, "A Summer Tale" reflects other early twentieth century musical influences, particularly Mahler. Listeners will see a variety in the styles of the various movements. As one can except from a conductor such as Mackerras, he explores the work's nuances and subtleties well and is in complete control of the orchestra.

Recordings such as this show that Suk deserves more attention than he often receives. Since most record labels are somewhat skittish (a mild understatement) about releasing new recordings, we may not find all that many new recordings of Suk's work in the near future, but at least we have this recording to give us a glimpse of what we are missing.

Massive and Mahlerian.......2003-07-30

Josef Suk should be far better known, especially when promoted by terrific recordings like this one. Anyone who admires the vast landscapes of Strauss or Mahler should respond to Suk's equally compelling terrain.

The main draw here is "A Summer's Tale," a gigantic tone poem that perfectly harnesses the resources of a huge orchestra -- in this case, the glorious Czech Philharmonic. Sir Charles Mackerras, long an advocate of composers like Janacek and Martinu, here shows that Suk should also be as well-known as either of these.

The filler, the "Fantastic Scherzo," is performed with equal commitment and fervor. (To my ears, the piece needs a new title; it's a little more laid-back and congenial than the word "scherzo" normally indicates.)

Decca's recording is clear, warm and detailed, and only adds to the impact. This is an exceptional recording of seldom-played repertoire, and can't be recommended highly enough. (NB: For those interested in hearing another outstanding version of "A Summer's Tale," a Virgin recording with Libor Pesek and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is also quite marvelous.)

Great music by a neglected composer.......2001-11-17

This was my first exposure to the music of Josef Suk and I was really quite amazed at the quality of much of the music here. "Voices of Life" starts off with a quiet but building intensity , invoking a dramatic sense of something "emerging" from darkness and night. "Noon" is a beautifully orchestrated evocation of, well, noon, with the strings shimmering and radiating with warmth. "Blind Musicians" is a short piece but the sadness it expresses seems endless. "In the Power of Phantoms" is a phantasmogoric nightmare. The final movement is solid; eventful and exciting, but resolving everything with a quiet and noble affirmativeness. I did have some slight reservations about how the whole thing is "put together". The three middle movements bear no relation to each other or the outer movements. The "filler" piece, "Fantastic Scherzo" is a little repetative, and in some places feels "stitched" together, but it features some truly exquisite melodies and striking orchestration. I think any classical music lover will enjoy this disc. That's too broad to be useful. Well, let's just say there are moments in these pieces that remind me of Mahler, Smetana and Dvorak. Maybe that helps. Oh, if you're already familiar with this piece, then you'll should be very happy with this recording. It is impeccably recorded, and both the Czech players and Mackarras have an easily apparent affinity for this music.