大象传媒

In March, to end their European tour, the Czech Philharmonic and their Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov came to the Barbican Hall for this eagerly awaited concert 鈥� the first international visiting orchestra to perform there since the pandemic.

In a world where one orchestra often sounds very much like another, the Czech Philharmonic has retained an immediately recognisable distinctiveness, especially, as here, in two peaks of the Czech repertoire, each so characteristic of its composer.

Dvo艡谩k's unique joyousness, sensuous happiness and nostalgia combine in his lyrical Eighth Symphony, by turns rustic, wistful and exuberant.

The church's all-consuming obsession (as he saw it) with death and suffering, was not for Jan谩膷ek and his Glagolitic Mass, an ecstatic, visionary, pantheistic celebration, including fanfares, a wild organ solo and sudden outbursts, is like nothing else. 'Luminous, totally crazy, insane, full of joy of life,' is how Semyon Bychkov describes it.

Introduced by Ian Skelly.

Dvo艡谩k: Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88

8.15 pm
Interval Music (from CD)

Jan谩膷ek: 笔辞丑谩诲办补
Laura van der Heijden (cello)
J芒ms Coleman (piano)

8.30 pm
Jan谩膷ek: Glagolitic Mass

Evelina Dobra膷eva (soprano)
Lucie Hilscherov谩 (alto)
Ale拧 Briscein (tenor)
Boris Pr媒gl (bass)
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)