Ostrcil - Jack’s Kingdom | Supraphon SU42242

Ostrcil - Jack’s Kingdom

£15.68

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Label: Supraphon

Cat No: SU42242

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Release Date: 21st July 2017

Contents

Artists

Ivo Zidek
Premysl Koci
Jaroslava Vymazalova
Jaroslav Veverka
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductors

Vaclav Jiracek
Vaclav Neumann

Works

Ostrcil, Otakar

Honzovo kralovstvi (Jack's Kingdom), op.25
Krizova cesta (Calvary or The Way of the Cross): Variations for large orchestra, op.24

Artists

Ivo Zidek
Premysl Koci
Jaroslava Vymazalova
Jaroslav Veverka
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductors

Vaclav Jiracek
Vaclav Neumann

About

A unique recording of an undeservedly overlooked opera on CD for the very first time.

The complete recording of Jack’s Kingdom, the final opera by Otakar Ostrčil (1879-1935), a remarkable fairy-tale work with an anti-war message, is now being released on CD for the first time.

It is based on L.N. Tolstoy’s short story about a land ruled by the good-natured Ivan (transformed in the opera into Honza, or Jack) who knows not what spite is. In his kingdom, soldiers do not wage wars, yet dance and love, all diseases are cured and people are happy. Honza brings to all the people the miraculous star of compassion, love and peace, possessing so great a power that it even cures the incurable Princess and prevails over the Devil himself. When the opera was premiered in Brno (1934) and subsequently presented in Prague, it gave rise to a conflict between Ostrčil and a part of Czech society.

The present CD features the one and only studio recording of the opera, made in 1954 by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, with Ivo Žídek, Jaroslava Vymazalová and Přemysl Kočí singing the lead roles. The CD also contains a unique recording of Ostrčil’s Calvary, op.24, made in 1957 by the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Václav Neumann.

Recorded in Prague in the Czech Radio, January 1954 (Jack's Kingdom), and at the Rudolfinum, 19, 20 and 24 November 1957 (Calvary)

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