Bohuslav Martinů - The Epic of Gilgamesh (Jiří Bělohlávek)

Information

Composer: Bohuslav Martinů

• The Epic of Gilgamesh, oratorio, H. 351

Marcela Machotková, soprano

Jiří Zahradníček, tenor

Václav Zítek, baritone

Karel Průša, bass

Otakar Brousek, speaker

Prague Philharmonic Choir

Prague Symphony Orchestra

Jiří Bělohlávek, conductor

Date: 1976

Label: Supraphon

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Bohuslav Martinů (December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a Czech composer of modern classical music. He was a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and briefly studied under Czech composer and violinist Josef Suk. Martinů was a prolific composer who wrote almost 400 pieces. Many of his works are regularly performed or recorded, among them his oratorio The Epic of Gilgamesh, his six symphonies, concertos, chamber music, a flute sonata, a clarinet sonatina and many others. Martinů's notable students include Alan Hovhaness, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Jan Novák and many others.

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Jiří Bělohlávek (24 February 1946 – 31 May 2017) was a Czech conductor. He was born in Prague and graduated from the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts. Bělohlávek was a leading interpreter of Czech classical music, and became chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1990, a role he would serve on two occasions during a combined span of seven years (1990–92, 2012–17). He also served a six-year tenure as the chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 2006 to 2012. He gained international renown for his performances of the works of Czech composers.

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