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Spence / Perez - Sparks From Ashes - Czech Songs

Spence / Perez - Sparks From Ashes - Czech Songs

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Hailed by The Daily Telegraph as 'a voice of real distinction', Nicky Spence possesses unique skills as a singing actor and a rare honesty of musicianship, all of which has earned him a place at the top of the classical music profession. Admired in particular for his interpretation of the music of Janácek, he has appeared worldwide in the composer's operas. Performing here with the outstanding pianist Dylan Perez, he presents a varied programme of Czech and Slovak art song. Bela Bartok found his lifelong enthusiasm for folk music sparked whilst on holiday in Slovakia in 1904, when he heard a nursemaid singing. Village Scenes sets five folksongs from a large Slovakian collection published in 1915, and depicts various aspects of a country wedding. Jaroslav Kricka became a central figure in Czech musical life, occupying the posts of chorus master of the Czech Philharmonic and professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory, amongst others. His Three Fables are settings of traditional fairy tales. Vitezslava Kaprálová was a composer of great promise who died of TB in 1940, aged just twenty-five. She studied conducting with Václav Talich and composition with Vitezslav Novák before moving to Paris where she was taught by Bohuslav Martinu. Her song cycle Sparks from Ashes deals with themes of love - found, flourishing, and lost - as do the eighteen numbers of Dvorák's song cycle Cypresses. Written by Kaprálová four years later, the haunting Waving Farwell was inspired by having to leave Prague for her new life in Paris.

Tracklist:

  1. Waving Farewell, Op. 14 (Sbohem a sátecek), Op. 14 Song for Voice and Piano
  2. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~I. Vy, vroucí písne, pejte (You ardent songs, sing). Moderato
  3. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~II. V té sladké moci ocí Tvych (In that sweet power of your eyes). Andante con moto
  4. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~III. V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest (So many a heart is as though dead). Allegretto
  5. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~IV. O, duse drahá, jedinká (Oh, dear soul, the only one). Moderato
  6. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~V. O byl to krásny, zlaty sen (Oh, it was a lovely, golden dream). Andante
  7. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VI. Já vím, ze v sladké nadeji (I know that in sweet hope). Allegretto - Meno
  8. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VII. O zlatá ruze, spanilá (Oh, golden rose, fair). Andantino
  9. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VIII. O, nasí lásce nekvete (Oh, that longed-for happiness). Con anima (velmi bolestne)
  10. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~IX. Kol domu se ted potácím (Around the house now I stagger). Moderato - Più mosso
  11. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~X. Me casto tyrá pochyba (Doubt often torments me). Moderato
  12. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XI. Mé srdce casto v nestestí (My heart often broods in unhappiness). Andantino - Più all
  13. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XII. Zde hledím na ten drahy list (Here I look upon this dear letter). Allegro
  14. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XIII. Na horách ticho a v údolí ticho (On the mountains quiet and in the valley quiet). A
  15. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XIV. Zde v lese u potoka (Here in the forest by a brook). Andante - Meno
  16. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XV. Mou celou dusí zádumne (Pensively through my whole soul). Allegro
  17. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVI. Tam stojí stará skála (There stands an old crag). Andante maestoso
  18. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVII. Nad krajem vévodí lehky spánek (Over the countryside reigns a light sleep). Allegre
  19. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVIII. Ty se ptás, proc moje zpevy bourí (You ask why my songs rage). Allegro animato - An
  20. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~I. Pri hrabaní (Haymaking). Largo
  21. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~II. Pri neveste (At the Bride's). Lento
  22. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~III. Svatba (Wedding). Vivacissimo - Grave
  23. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~IV. Ukoliebavka (Lullaby). Andante - Più
  24. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~V. Tanec mládencov (Lads' Dance). Comodo
  25. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~I. Ty staré písne v dusi zní mi (Those old songs echo i
  26. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~II. Jak na hedvábny mech (As though on silken moss). Lent
  27. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~III. O zustan jeste, moje dívko drahá (Oh, stay a while
  28. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~IV. A táhnou myslenky teskné (And melancholy thoughts dr
  29. Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~
  30. O neposlusnych kozlatech (The tale of the disobedient kid goats). A piacere - Tranquillo - Andante sostenuto - Poco più mosso,
  31. Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~
  32. Pohádka o kohoutkovi a slepicce (The tale of the rooster and the hen). Con moto moderato - Sostenuto assai - Andante - Tempo I
  33. Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~
  34. Jeráb a volavka (The crane and the heron). Ze sbírky Afanasjevovy v prekladu Jeronyma Holecka. Allegretto - Meno, giusto - Com

UPC: 0095115233825
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 8.8.25
Format: CD
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