The career of conductor Rafael Kubelík (1914–1996) provides an interesting insight into the world of music in the twentieth century. Born the eighth child of the then world-famous violin virtuoso Jan Kubelík and his wife Countess Marianne Csáky-Széll, he was already commanding attention while he was studying piano, violin and composition at the Prague Conservatory between 1929 and 1933. In 1935 he embarked on a tour of the United States as his fatherʼs accompanist. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (which Václav Talich raised to the status of a top European orchestra) hired him as its conductor in 1936. When, the following year, Talich fell ill during a tour of western Europe, Kubelík filled in for him and began consolidating his international reputation. Despite his tendency towards subversive programming (he often included works by banned composers), he was able to retain the post after taking it over in 1941. In the post-war period Kubelík’s work with the orchestra enriched the cultural life of his country and in 1946 he became one of the founders of the Prague Spring Festival. Kubelík defected in 1948, though, in protest against the communist dictatorship in Czechoslovakia. His three-year term as Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ended as a result of the ill-will born him by the music critic Claudia Cassidy. His time as Music Director of The Royal Opera at Covent Garden was brought to an end because of opposition from Sir Thomas Beecham. Nevertheless, among orchestra musicians he was one of the most well-liked and esteemed conductors. His openness, fair moral principles and the friendly working atmosphere he created brought him a degree of recognition which even produced award-winning results in the recording studio.

Contents:

CD 1: Dvořák
Slavonic Rhapsody in A flat major, op.45 no.3, B86
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1958

Slavonic Dances, op.46
Slavonic Dances, op.72
- Wiener Philharmoniker
Recorded: 1955

CD 2: Dvořák
Symphony no.9 in E minor, op.95 “From the New World”
Symphony no.7 in D minor, op.70
- Wiener Philharmoniker
Recorded: 1956
Total time CD 2: 76'47

CD 3: Dvořák
Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33, B63
- Rudolf Firkušný (piano)
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1946

In Nature’s Realm, op.91, B168
Carnival Overture, op.92, B169
Othello, op.93, B174
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1946
Total time CD 3: 76'45

CD 4:
Dvořák
Symphonic Variations, op.78
- Philharmonia Orchestra
Recorded: 1957 (BBC Broadcast, Edinburgh Festival)

Cello Concerto in B minor, op.104
- Pierre Fournier (cello)
- Philharmonia Orchestra
Recorded: 1948

Martinů - Les Fresques de Piero della Francesca, H352
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1958

CD 5: Smetana
Má vlast
- Wiener Philharmoniker
Recorded: 1960

CD 6
Smetana - Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride): Overture, Polka, Furiant, Skočná (Dance of the Comedians)
- Philharmonia Orchestra
Recorded: 1951

Dvořák - Scherzo capriccioso, op.66
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1958

Bartók - Concerto for Orchestra, Sz116
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1958

CD 7
Janáček
Sinfonietta
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1946

Taras Bulba
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1958

Martinů
Double Concerto for 2 string orchestra, piano and timpani, H271
- Sidney Crook (piano), James Bradshaw (timpani)
- Philharmonia Orchestra
Recorded: 1950

Memorial to Lidice,9'03
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1946, live

CD 8
Bartók
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: 1951

Two Portraits, op.5, Sz27
- Steven Staryk (violin)
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1958

Martinů - Symphony no.4, H 305
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1948

CD 9
Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel)
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Recorded / aufgenommen: 1950

Borodin
Symphony no.2 in B minor
Prince Igor: Polovtzian Dances (sung in German)
- Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien
- Wiener Philharmoniker
Recorded / aufgenommen: 1960

CD 10
Shostakovich - Symphony no.9 in E flat major, op.70
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1945

Tchaikovsky - Symphony no.6 in B minor, op.74, “Pathétique”
- Wiener Philharmoniker
Recorded: 1960