Credits:

Jan Bartos

Description:

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth.A pupil of Dvok, admired by Brahms:the music of Vtzslav Novk,recorded by Jakub Hra and Jan Barto.When we think of Czech composers, the names that come to mind are Dvok, Smetana, Janek, Suk and Martin yet standing in their shadow is a richly gifted figure who this year (2020) marks the 150th anniversary of his birth: Vtzslav Novk (1870-1949). Here is a new release devoted to Novk’s music from Jakub Hra, currently one of the leading lights of Czech musical life, and the much-admired pianist Jan Barto. The programme comprises the Piano Concerto in E minor, the set of piano pieces At Dusk, Op. 13, and the symphonic poem Toman and the Wood Nymph, Op. 40.Novk studied with Dvok at the Prague Conservatory. He subsequently won the admiration of Brahms, who helped him get his works published. Starting out from German Romanticism, he later composed in a nation