Modern Czech music for oboe, harp & piano

The most popular Dvořák’s chamber repertoire performed by one of the world’s most exciting string quartets.

The production values are superb across the board, and the clear, vivid sonic quality of this recording does full justice to the virtuoso musicianship of all four artists and the subtle grace notes, trills and vibratos they employ.

Awards - November 2009 Gramophone Editor's Choice '…superb, adroit performances of these concertos. Atmospheric and entirely absorbing.'

Bohuslav Martinu had condensed and adapted the novel Christ Recrucified by Nikos Kazantzakis to construct the English libretto for his unconventional work, intended for Covent Garden in the 1950s and championed then by its music director, Rafael Kubelik. In 1957 it was however rejected by the Covent Garden Board for what now seem rather flimsy reasons. Criticisms led to a drastic reworking during the last two years of Bohuslav Martinu's life. The through-composed second version, given in this recording, was only premiered in Zurich after his death in 1959.