Zdenek Fibich: Symphony No.2 In E Flat, Op.38/Symphony No.3 In E Minor, Op.53

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Music historians like to list composers from any given period in (generally opposing) pairs--there's Bach and Handel, Haydn and Mozart, Mahler and Bruckner, Brahms and Wagner, and in 19th-century Czech music, Dvorřak and Smetana. The only problem with this last is that there was also Fibich, a successful composer of both operas and symphonies, and a name that deserves quite a bit more attention that it currently receives. His three symphonies are superbly crafted, tuneful, ably-orchestrated pieces in the rich central European tradition of Brahms and Bruckner. They are not, however, particularly "Czech"- sounding, and this has counted against their being played more frequently outside his native country. But if you like Brahms and Dvorřak, you'll like Fibich. --David Hurwitz

Zdenek Fibich: Symphony No.2 In E Flat, Op.38/Symphony No.3 In E Minor, Op.53, Music, Zdenek Fibich, Neeme Järvi, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Classical, Classical Music, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic

Fibich: Complete Symphonies
Average customer rating:

A Good Addition to Your Collection

Comparatively obscure, but beautiful

Nice but the Bohemian Touch isn't Here

Fibich: Complete Symphonies

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Detroit Symphony Orchestra | ( D ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Fibich: String Quartets

Kurt Atterberg: The Symphonies (Box Set)

Wilhelm Peterson-Berger: Complete Symphonies [Box Set]

Gernsheim: Complete Symphonies

Melartin: The Six SYMPHONIES

ASIN: B00000DBQW
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1, Op. 17, In F Major: I Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 1, Op. 17, In F Major: II Scherzo & Trio: Allegro assai
Symphony No. 1, Op. 17, In F Major: III Adagio non troppo
Symphony No. 1, Op. 17, In F Major: IV Finale: Allegro con fuoco e vivace
Symphony No. 2, Op. 38, In E Flat Major: I Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 2, Op. 38, In E Flat Major: II Adagio
Symphony No. 2, Op. 38, In E Flat Major: III Scherzo & Trio: Presto
Symphony No. 2, Op. 38, In E Flat Major: IV Finale: Allegro energico

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3, Op. 53, In E Minor: I Allegro inquieto
Symphony No. 3, Op. 53, In E Minor: II Allegro con fuoco - Adagio
Symphony No. 3, Op. 53, In E Minor: III Scherzo & Trio: Vivo e grazioso
Symphony No. 3, Op. 53, In E Minor: IV Allegro maestoso - Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

A Good Addition to Your Collection.......2007-02-06

These symphonies are a delight, particularly the 2nd & 3rd. The fourth movement of the 2nd symphony is worth the price for the whole set. Wonderful melodies with some very interesting and inventive touches. Fibich had excellent command of the orchestra and combined German romantic expertise with Czech playfulness.

Comparatively obscure, but beautiful.......2002-01-23

When I purchased these CDs several years ago, they were in separate albums, and consequently, were twice the price. Coupled with Symphony No. 1 were two sections from Smetana's "Ma Vlast". Compared with Dvorak, the Symphonies are somewhat run-of-the-mill, but composers' talents and inspirations have varied a great deal over the years...............These symphonies, in spite of being a little lower on the "totem pole", are well worth hearing and becoming better acquainted with. I am not sorry that I paid a premium price for my separate albums. The performances and recording quality are stellar.

Nice but the Bohemian Touch isn't Here.......2000-12-04

Well, now Fibich has almost gone anonymous - he died 100 years ago - someone had to give his music some attention. These symphonies were recorded earlier by this team but now they're put together.

Even now people manage to misspell his name - it really isn't Zdenék - so why is he forgotten?

His music doesn't fall easy on the ear. You'll miss the melodic spontanity of a Dvorák; you'll not find the way Janacek could surprise you and you'll not find the way - say - a Brahms could make a happening out of a symphony.

So you'll find decent symphonies with no real memorable tunes, a sort of Wagnerian heavy-handedness used the wrong way around and a kind of sound which sounds rather compact and clogged if not played with the right Bohemina lightness of touch.

That's exactly what's happening here. The American orchestra sounds as a great one but isn't here because they - and their conductor - miss this touch.

Tracks:

Sym No.2 in E flat, Op.38: I. Allegro moderato
Sym No.2 in E flat, Op.38: II. Adagio
Sym No.2 in E flat, Op.38: III. Scherzo. Presto - Trio. Molto meno mosso - Presto
Sym No.2 in E flat, Op.38: IV. Finale. Allegro energico
Sym No.3 in e, Op.53: I. Allegro inquieto
Sym No.3 in e, Op.53: II. Allegro con fuoco - Adagio
Sym No.3 in e, Op.53: III. Scherzo. Vivo e grazioso - Trio. Andante con moto - Vivo e grazioso
Sym No.3 in e, Op.53: IV. Allegro maestoso - Allegro vivace

Amazon.com

Music historians like to list composers from any given period in (generally opposing) pairs--there's Bach and Handel, Haydn and Mozart, Mahler and Bruckner, Brahms and Wagner, and in 19th-century Czech music, Dvorřak and Smetana. The only problem with this last is that there was also Fibich, a successful composer of both operas and symphonies, and a name that deserves quite a bit more attention that it currently receives. His three symphonies are superbly crafted, tuneful, ably-orchestrated pieces in the rich central European tradition of Brahms and Bruckner. They are not, however, particularly "Czech"- sounding, and this has counted against their being played more frequently outside his native country. But if you like Brahms and Dvorřak, you'll like Fibich. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Like finding unknown Brahms.......2001-09-12

Your reviewer is right, if you like Brahms you'll likely enjoy this release. The simplest way I can put it is that this is like Brahms only muscular. I selected it because I was curious, for one thing I'm really impressed by what Jarvi chooses to record. On Chandos he has explored really unfamiliar music which is rare in the business. His orchestras are large ensembles that are unusally tight and incisive. His Chandos release of symphony #5 by Shostakovich is astonishing and that same release has as filler, balllet music from "The Bolt" This piece is recorded and played so perfectly that I can't help but sit there smiling like a chessie cat almost as if I were somehow sharing in the skill of the musicians and was not just sittling there. The Fibich has some equally stunning moments, and just as involving. I'm getting so I buy Neeme Jarvi releases without needing to have heard them first; I trust the man; what a nice feeling.