Czech Philharmonic
The Czech Philharmonic is the leading symphonic ensemble in the musically rich Czech Republic, with a long history of definitive performances and recordings of Czech repertory. The orchestra has sometimes found itself a topic of political contention as the waves of European history have swept across its homeland.
Like many other Central European orchestras, the Czech Philharmonic (the Czech name since 2015 is Česká filharmonie, and the word "orchestra" is no longer part of its name) began as a theater orchestra: a group of orchestral musicians at the Prague National Theatre named themselves the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1894, and in two years, the wisdom of the move became apparent when Dvořák conducted the group in a concert of his own works. By 1901, the Philharmonic was a fully independent entity, and it quickly gained renown beyond Czech borders; Mahler conducted the orchestra in the world premiere of his Symphony No. 7 in 1908. The most important among the orchestra's early conductors was Vaclav Talich, who held the post of principal conductor for most of the period between 1919 and 1941.
The orchestra's conductors since then have all been internationally renowned figures. Rafael Kubelik assumed the baton under German occupation in 1942, remaining until 1948 but fleeing at that point as Czechoslovakia came under Communist rule. His successors have included Karel Ancerl (who fled to Canada during the Soviet crackdown after the so-called Prague Spring of 1968), Václav Neumann, and Jiří Bělohlávek, all of whom were distinguished interpreters of Czech music, Mahler, and often French and 20th century music as well. Their recordings gained critical acclaim in the West despite Czechoslovakia's partial isolation during the Cold War. In the late '80s, the orchestra participated in Czech protests against Soviet domination. A performance of Smetana's Má vlast in 1990 marked Kubelik's return to his homeland for the first time in 42 years. Bělohlávek served from 1990 to 1992, stepping down as the orchestra appointed Gerd Albrecht to be its first non-Czech conductor. This move generated controversy, and Albrecht also resigned in 1996. He was succeeded by Vladimir Ashkenazy (1996-2003), who led the orchestra on major international tours. He was followed by Zdeněk Mácal and the Eliahu Inbal. Bělohlávek returned in 2012 and was essentially given a contract for life, making critically acclaimed recordings before his death in 2017. Since 2018, the orchestra's conductor has been Semyon Bychkov.
The Czech Philharmonic has recorded prolifically during the digital era, at first mostly for the Czech national label Supraphon. In the late 2010s, the group has also recorded for the Decca label, which has continued to issue Bělohlávek recordings in its vaults. In 2019, his reading of Josef Suk's Asrael Symphony appeared on that label. The Bychkov era began on Decca with The Tchaikovsky Project (2019), a complete cycle of the composer's symphonies, concertos, and other orchestral works. In 2022, Bychkov and the Philharmonic issued a pair of Mahler symphony releases on the PentaTone Classics label. By that time, the group's recording catalog comprised some 140 digital albums, plus many LPs issued when the Philharmonic was the national orchestra of Czechoslovakia.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Mahler: Symphony No. 1
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Symphonies - Released by PENTATONE on 8 Sep 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Anton Dvorák : Complete Symphonies & Concertos
Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek , Garrick Ohlsson, Alisa Weilerstein, Frank Peter Zimmermann
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: Má Vlast
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Symphonies - Released by PENTATONE on 1 Mar 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Tchaikovsky Project - Complete Symphonies - Orchestral Works - Complete Piano Concertos
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov, Kirill Gerstein
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 30 Aug 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 2
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov, Christiane Karg, Elisabeth Kulman, Prague Philharmonic Choir
Symphonies - Released by PENTATONE on 7 Apr 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana: Má Vlast
Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 5 Jan 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Folk Songs
Magdalena Kožená, Czech Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle
Mélodies - Released by PENTATONE on 13 Oct 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Symphonies - Released by PENTATONE on 14 Oct 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 4
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Symphonies - Released by PENTATONE on 4 Aug 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Cello Concerto, Rondo, Silent Woods
Alisa Weilerstein, Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek , Anna Polonsky
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 21 Apr 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 (Karel Ančerl Edition, Vol. 8)
Czech Philharmonic, Karel Ancerl
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on 1 Jan 1956
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Requiem, Biblical Songs, Te Deum
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 20 Mar 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Slavonic Dances Opp. 46 & 72
Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 7 Oct 2016
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Josef Suk : Asrael Fairy Tale
Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Bělohlávek
Symphonic Music - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 26 Apr 2019
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček : Glagolitic Mass, Taras Bulba, Sinfonietta...
Jiří Bělohlávek , Czech Philharmonic
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 31 Aug 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Martinů: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5 & Concertino for Piano and Orchestra (World Premiere Recording)
Emil Leichner, Jiří Bělohlávek , Czech Philharmonic
Miscellaneous - Released by SUPRAPHON a.s. on 1 Jan 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 9 in D major
Karel Ancerl, Czech Philharmonic
Symphonic Music - Released by SUPRAPHON a.s. on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák, Smetana: Life with Czech Music
Charles Mackerras, Czech Philharmonic, Prague Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Supraphon a.s. on 15 Oct 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky : Symphony No.6 - Romeo & Juliet
Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 14 Oct 2016
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Violin Concerto; Romance/Suk: Fantasie
Pamela Frank, Czech Philharmonic, Charles Mackerras
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cherubini: Requiem No. 2; Mozart: Mass in C Major, K. 317 “Coronation” (Igor Markevitch – The Deutsche Grammophon Legacy: Volume 1)
Czech Chorus, Prague, Czech Philharmonic, Choeurs Elisabeth Brasseur, Orchestre Lamoureux, Igor Markevitch
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on 1 Jan 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo