Dvorák: Legends & Rhapsodies Czech Philharmonic & Tomáš Netopil

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): Legends, Op. 59, B. 122:
• 1 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 1, Allegretto 03:12
• 2 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 2, Molto moderato 04:20
• 3 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 3, Allegro giusto 04:04
• 4 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 4, Molto maestoso 05:46
• 5 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 5, Allegro giusto 04:17
• 6 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 6, Allegro con moto 05:15
• 7 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 7, Allegretto grazioso 02:57
• 8 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 8, Un poco Allegretto e grazioso 04:09
• 9 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 9, Andante con moto 02:46
• 10 Dvořák: Legends, Op. 59, B. 122: No. 10, Andante 04:20
• Slavonic Rhapsodies, Op. 45, B. 86:
• 11 Dvořák: Slavonic Rhapsodies, Op. 45, B. 86: No. 1, in D Major 12:28
• 12 Dvořák: Slavonic Rhapsodies, Op. 45, B. 86: No. 2, in G Minor 13:13
• 13 Dvořák: Slavonic Rhapsodies, Op. 45, B. 86: No. 3, in A-Flat Major 13:38
• Total Runtime 01:20:25

Info for Dvorák: Legends & Rhapsodies

An Idiomatic Interpretation Of Orchestral Dvořák Gems

Dvořák’s Legends and Slavonic Rhapsodies, recorded by regular guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Tomáš Netopil, marks the orchestra’s fourth recording featuring Czech composers in 2024’s Year of Czech Music. Dvořák wrote his Slavonic Rhapsodies just before the Slavonic Dances that catapulted him to world fame, and they share their colourful orchestration and appealing folk dance melodies – even if the Rhapsodies have more expansive, ambitious forms. The Legends are at least as ingenious, with a smaller orchestra giving the pieces a more intimate, introspective quality. These lesser-known gems are now presented in a glorious idiomatic interpretation by the Czech Philharmonic, arguably the world’s best orchestra for this repertoire.

The Czech Philharmonic – recently awarded Gramophone’s Orchestra of the Year Award – is one of the world’s orchestral gems, recognised for its rich tradition with the Czech masters as well as European repertoire. Together with their chief conductor and artistic director Semyon Bychkov, they have so far recorded for PENTATONE Mahler’s First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (2022-2023), part of the complete Mahler cycle to be released by the label, as well as Smetana’s Má vlast and Dvořák’s Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Symphonies (2024). The Orchestra is also featured on the albums Folk Songs (2023) and Czech Songs (2024) recorded by Magdalena Kožená and Sir Simon Rattle. Guest conductor Tomáš Netopil makes his PENTATONE debut.

“Every opportunity to present Dvořák’s Legends or Rhapsodies to an audience is a celebration for me. These musical treasures stand rather apart from the mainstream of Dvořák, but they nevertheless profoundly demonstrate the composer’s melodic and inventive genius. I believe that listeners will enjoy the musical sincerity and joy that emanates from this music, which fully reflects Dvořák’s happy period of his life.” (Tomáš Netopil)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Tomas Netopil, conductor

Tomáš Netopil
An inspirational force, particularly in Czech music, Tomáš Netopil was Principal Guest Conductor with Czech Philharmonic from 2018 to 2024 performing regularly on tour and at concerts in the Rudolfinum Hall in Prague. He will continue to collaborate with the Czech Phil on a regular basis, including conducting the orchestra’s New Year’s concerts, which are live televised. In 2023/24 Tomáš Netopil conducted opera productions including Janáček’s Jenůfa at the Hamburg Staatsoper and Dvořák’s Rusalka at the Prague National Theatre as well as symphonic engagements with Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, Naples Philharmonic and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Opera productions in the 2024/25 season include Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Die Zauberflöte with the New National Theatre Foundation, Tokyo and Don Giovanni with Oper Köln. As Principal Guest Conductor, Netopil conducts Czech Philharmonic Orchestra’s live televised New Year concerts at the Rudolfinum, Prague. He explores a wide range of symphonic repertoire in engagements with Oslo Philharmonic, Antwerp, Kuopio and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. This season sees a welcome return to L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo as well as a debut with Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire. Another return is to Concentus Musicus Wien where he builds on his work with period ensembles. This time, as part of the Prague Spring Festival, Netopil delights the audience with an authentic production of Mozart’s Requiem.

Seven years ago, Tomáš Netopil created the International Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž offering students both exceptional artistic tuition and the opportunity to meet and work with major international musicians. In Summer 2021, in association with the Dvořák Prague Festival, the Academy established the Dvořákova Praha Youth Philharmonic with musicians from conservatories and music academies, coached by principal players of Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Netopil has held a close relationship with the Dvořák Prague Festival for some time and was Artist in Residence in 2017, opening the Festival with Essen Philharmoniker and closing the Festival with Dvořák’s Te Deum and Wiener Symphoniker.

Tomáš Netopil’s discography for Supraphon includes Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass (the first ever recording of the original 1927 version), Dvořák’s complete cello works, Martinů’s Ariane and Double Concerto, and Smetana’s Má vlast with Prague Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure in Essen, his releases have included recordings of Suk Asrael and Mahler’s Symphony No.2, 3,6 and 9.

From 2008/12 Tomáš Netopil held the position of Music Director of the Prague National Theatre. He studied violin and conducting in his native Czech Republic, as well as at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm under the guidance of Professor Jorma Panula. In 2002 he won the 1st Sir Georg Solti Conductors Competition at the Alte Oper Frankfurt.

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