Details

Hailed by The Daily Telegraph as 'a voice of real distinction', Nicky Spence possesses unique skills as a singing actor and a rare honesty of musicianship, all of which has earned him a place at the top of the classical music profession. Admired in particular for his interpretation of the music of Jancek, he has appeared worldwide in the composer's operas. Performing here with the outstanding pianist Dylan Perez, he presents a varied programme of Czech and Slovak art song. Bela Bartok found his lifelong enthusiasm for folk music sparked whilst on holiday in Slovakia in 1904, when he heard a nursemaid singing. Village Scenes sets five folksongs from a large Slovakian collection published in 1915, and depicts various aspects of a country wedding. Jaroslav Kricka became a central figure in Czech musical life, occupying the posts of chorus master of the Czech Philharmonic and professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory, amongst others. His Three Fables are settings of traditional fairy tales. Vitezslava Kaprlov was a composer of great promise who died of TB in 1940, aged just twenty-five. She studied conducting with Vclav Talich and composition with Vitezslav Novk before moving to Paris where she was taught by Bohuslav Martinu. Her song cycle Sparks from Ashes deals with themes of love - found, flourishing, and lost - as do the eighteen numbers of Dvork's song cycle Cypresses. Written by Kaprlov four years later, the haunting Waving Farwell was inspired by having to leave Prague for her new life in Paris.

Tracklist:

1. Waving Farewell, Op. 14 (Sbohem a stecek), Op. 14 Song for Voice and Piano
2. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~I. Vy, vrouc psne, pejte (You ardent songs, sing). Moderato
3. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~II. V t sladk moci oc Tvych (In that sweet power of your eyes). Andante con moto
4. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~III. V tak mnohm srdci mrtvo jest (So many a heart is as though dead). Allegretto
5. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~IV. O, duse drah, jedink (Oh, dear soul, the only one). Moderato
6. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~V. O byl to krsny, zlaty sen (Oh, it was a lovely, golden dream). Andante
7. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VI. J vm, ze v sladk nadeji (I know that in sweet hope). Allegretto - Meno
8. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VII. O zlat ruze, spanil (Oh, golden rose, fair). Andantino
9. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VIII. O, nas lsce nekvete (Oh, that longed-for happiness). Con anima (velmi bolestne)
10. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~IX. Kol domu se ted potcm (Around the house now I stagger). Moderato - Pi mosso
11. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~X. Me casto tyr pochyba (Doubt often torments me). Moderato
12. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XI. M srdce casto v nestest (My heart often broods in unhappiness). Andantino - Pi all
13. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XII. Zde hledm na ten drahy list (Here I look upon this dear letter). Allegro
14. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XIII. Na horch ticho a v dol ticho (On the mountains quiet and in the valley quiet). A
15. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XIV. Zde v lese u potoka (Here in the forest by a brook). Andante - Meno
16. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XV. Mou celou dus zdumne (Pensively through my whole soul). Allegro
17. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVI. Tam stoj star skla (There stands an old crag). Andante maestoso
18. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVII. Nad krajem vvod lehky spnek (Over the countryside reigns a light sleep). Allegre
19. Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVIII. Ty se pts, proc moje zpevy bour (You ask why my songs rage). Allegro animato - An
20. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~I. Pri hraban (Haymaking). Largo
21. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~II. Pri neveste (At the Bride's). Lento
22. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~III. Svatba (Wedding). Vivacissimo - Grave
23. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~IV. Ukoliebavka (Lullaby). Andante - Pi
24. Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~V. Tanec mldencov (Lads' Dance). Comodo
25. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~I. Ty star psne v dusi zn mi (Those old songs echo i
26. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~II. Jak na hedvbny mech (As though on silken moss). Lent
27. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~III. O zustan jeste, moje dvko drah (Oh, stay a while
28. Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~IV. A thnou myslenky teskn (And melancholy thoughts dr
29. Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~
30. O neposlusnych kozlatech (The tale of the disobedient kid goats). A piacere - Tranquillo - Andante sostenuto - Poco pi mosso,
31. Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~
32. Pohdka o kohoutkovi a slepicce (The tale of the rooster and the hen). Con moto moderato - Sostenuto assai - Andante - Tempo I
33. Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~
34. Jerb a volavka (The crane and the heron). Ze sbrky Afanasjevovy v prekladu Jeronyma Holecka. Allegretto - Meno, giusto - Com

UPC: 0095115233825
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 8.8.25
Format: CD