I can't summon up the same enthusiasm for the ballet music "Ondras" by Ilja Hurnik, though and I wonder if Ancerl's talents might have been used better than by recording what for me is a rather dull, routine score.
Ilja Hurnik was also a pianist who had a reputation as an interpreter of the French repertoire. What I have heard of his recordings suggested that his idea of interpretation consisted of frequently adopting the opposite notion to what the composer intended. His recordings of Janacek (which I have not heard) however are supposed to be very sympathetic to the spirit of the music.
To Peter J lawson
Hear, hear re Ancerl's Ma Vlast. Then again, I could list at least another 10 Ancerl recordings which either are the best - Janacek's Sinfonietta - or simply up there with the best - Shostakovich 5 and 10, Mahler 1 and 9, Prokofiev Romeo and J excerpts - did you know Juliet used to date Rameau? - Stravinky Psalm Symphony, Martinu symphonies - he didn't record all of them - Glagolitic Mass, Alexander Nevsky - I could go on...
He was simply one of the very great conductors.
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