Bohuslav Martinů - Music for Violin and Orchestra Vol. 4 (Matoušek; Hogwood)

Information

Composer: Bohuslav Martinů

• Violin Concerto No. 1, H 226
• Violin Concerto No. 2, H 293

Bohuslav Matoušek, violin

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Christopher Hogwood, conductor

Date: 2008

Label: Hyperion

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Review

Martinu's two violin concertos have very different histories. The First was created for Dushkin in 1931, much tinkered with over the next few years and then "lost" until Halbreich unearthed it in 1968. The Second (1943) was written in just two months for Mischa Elman, premiered before the year was out and taken up by several violinists soon afterwards, often being programmed unnumbered until its predecessor came to light.

Josef Suk set the benchmark for both but his recordings, still in the Supraphon catalogue, have been overtaken by this newcomer and, in No 2, by Isabelle Faust's superb recent account (Harmonia Mundi, 8/08). Matousek and Hogwood certainly have the measure of both scores and in the Second run Faust and Belohlavek close. I do like the latter's expansive approach in the central Andante moderato where Matousek and Hogwood are two minutes swifter (and Suk and Neumann faster still) but I really cannot choose between them. Couplings may prove decisive, not least the best available Toccata e due canzone (Faust) or the Viola Rhapsody-Concerto (Suk); my recommendation is for the Hyperion set as a whole (Vol 3 includes the Rhapsody-Concerto) but I would not want to be without the Harmonia Mundi. Concerto No 1 was formerly available on Supraphon with the Suite concertante's second version included on Vol 3 (7/08), although the published recording dates of the Suite suggested otherwise (Hyperion says it is correcting this on future issues). Strongly recommended.

— Guy Rickards

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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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Bohuslav Matoušek (born 26 September 1949) is a Czech violinist and violist. He studied at Prague's Academy of Music and with Arthur Grumiaux, Nathan Milstein and Wolfgang Schneiderhan. After winning first prize at the 1972 Prague Spring Competition, he became leader of Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo. From 1980 to 1995, he led and recorded extensively with the Stamic Quartet. Since 1995, he has focused more on solo and chamber music, notably collaborating with pianist Petr Adamec. Their recordings of Martinu’s works earned critical acclaim and a Cannes Classical Award in 2001.

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Christopher Hogwood (10 September 1941 – 24 September 2014) was an English conductor, harpsichordist, and musicologist known for his work in historically informed performance. He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge and trained by noted musicians such as Raymond Leppard, Gustav Leonhardt and Zuzana Růžičková. In 1973 he founded the Academy of Ancient Music which became renowned for performing Baroque and Classical music on period instruments. Hogwood also explored Romantic and modern repertoire, especially neobaroque and neoclassical works by Stravinsky, Martinů, and Hindemith.

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