Czech composer Bedřich Smetana composed a series of six symphonic poems that he collectively titled Má vlast ("My Fatherland"). The second of these poems, Vltava, describes the river of that name (also known as "The Moldau" from the river's German name). Smetana himself wrote of the piece:
The composition describes the course of the Vltava, starting from the two small springs, the Studená and Teplá Vltava, to the unification of both streams into a single current, the course of the Vltava through woods and meadows, through landscapes where a farmer's wedding is celebrated, the round dance of the mermaids in the night's moonshine: on the nearby rocks loom proud castles, palaces and ruins aloft. The Vltava swirls into the St John's Rapids; then it widens and flows toward Prague, past the Vyšehrad, and then majestically vanishes into the distance, ending at the Elbe.
It's become one of his best-known works, and is today a standard part of the symphonic repertoire.
I find most renditions of Vltava are too fast, which tends to obscure the haunting, delicate opening passages. This performance by the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, avoids that pitfall.
A lovely performance of a beautiful piece.
Peter
Agreed, the tempo is just right on this favorite.
ReplyDeleteI grew up listening to this music being performed by the Berlin Philharmonic/vonKarajan. You're right about the timing, and I enjoyed the subtitles. A pleasure this morning, thank you.rickm
ReplyDeleteThe melody of Israel's national anthem (Hatikvah) is based on the opening part of this symphony.
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