BOHUSLAV MARTINU (1890-1959): Complete Music for Violin and Orchestra, Vol. 2 - Concerto da camera for Violin and String Orchestra with Piano and Percussion, H285 Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra, H342, Czech Rhapsody, H307A (arr. Jirí Teml [b.1935]).

Description: More unusual and unrecorded Martinu in the world premiere recording of Jirí Teml's orchestration (commissioned by the Martinu Foundation in 2001) of the ten-minute violin/piano work which the composer intended for Fritz Kreisler. The technical difficulties of the piece would probably have been beyond the septuagenarian violinist in 1945 so Martinu never orchestrated it. It inhabits the joyous world of the Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5. Also otherwise unavailable at the moment is the double concerto of 1952 which seems to release some of the dark thoughts and feelings resulting from a personal crisis. Elements of Martinu's neo-baroque style are present but so are late Romantic infusions of almost Dvorakian quality and expressiveness. Bohuslav Matousek (violin), Karel Kosárek (piano), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra; Christopher Hogwood.