SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

Complete performances of Má Vlast are rare in this country, so this was a singular chance made all the more special by it being given by a superb Czechoslovakian orchestra, and it was an occasion to be relished.

The six symphonic poems which collectively make up Smetana’s musical portrait of his homeland mix high drama with nature painting and several contain a history lesson as well! Scored for a large orchestra this work shows just what a fine composer Smetana was – I do believe that this is too often forgotten for we don’t hear a great deal of his work apart from excerpts from the operas, two of this cycle, and the 1^st String Quartet – one who could create large scale works, orchestrate them in the most colourful way and pack them with good tunes.

Vltava and From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields are the two most frequent visitors to our concert halls but the other four works are of equal, if not greater, interest. Vyšehrad depicts the castle which was the seat of the earliest Czech Kings and starts with two harps giving the motto theme which will reappear from time to time in the other works. This is a dramatic depiction of olden times and especially of the fall, literally, of the castle. Vltava needs no introduction, being a description of the river which flows through Prague. Šárka is a portrait of a woman who swears vengeance on men and this is a frightening and passionate portrayal of her and her murderous intent. From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields is a beautiful nature study and it was at the conclusion of this piece that, because Pešek had so successfully created his musical pictures, the whole audience simply had to allow release and burst into spontaneous applause, which was graciously received by Pešek, as he told us that there was more to come.

The last two pieces Tábor and Blanik are linked musically and can, if not given a tight performance, sound banal. Here Pešek achieved the miraculous by bringing out the lyrical episodes and never allowing the battle, and argumentative, music to take centre stage.

This was a wonderful performance which was played with such love and reverence one could see why the work is held in such esteem in Czechoslovakia. The orchestral playing was first rate – if anything it was even better than last night – and Pešek’s direction was positively inspired. A stunning show in every way.

Bob Briggs