Legends, Op. 59, B. 122
Slavonic Rhapsodies,Op. 45, B. 86

Dvořák’s Legends and Slavonic Rhapsodies, recorded by Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, Tomáš Netopil, marks the orchestra’s fourth recording featuring Czech composers in 2024’s Year of Czech Music. Dvořák wrote his Slavonic Rhapsodies just before the Slavonic Dances that catapulted him to world fame, and they share their colourful orchestration and appealing folk dance melodies - even if the Rhapsodies have more expansive, ambitious forms. The Legends are at least as ingenious, with a smaller orchestra giving the pieces a more intimate, introspective quality. These lesser-known gems are now presented in a glorious idiomatic interpretation by the Czech Philharmonic, arguably the world’s best orchestra for this repertoire.

---

This album was recorded 24-26 November 2021 (Legends) and 19-21 January 2023 (Slavonic Rhapsodies) in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, Prague.