Buy used: $7.02
$3.99 delivery May 29 - June 20. Details
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by momox Shop
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: Quality checked pre-owned articles. Media article in excellent condition.

Symphony No 1 / Impressions from the Country

Marek Stilec Format: Audio CD
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 18 ratings
$7.02
See all 3 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Listen Now with Amazon Music
Fibich: Symphony No. 1 - Impressions from the Countryside Amazon Music Unlimited
Price
New from Used from
MP3 Music, April 2, 2013
$7.99
$7.99 —
Audio CD, April 30, 2013
$7.02
$15.08 $7.02

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  1. Orchestral Works 2: Symphony No.2 at Twilight
  2. Orchestral Works 5
    Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava Stilec
    4.5 out of 5 stars 20
    Audio CD
    19 offers from $14.64
  3. Eclipse
    Hilary Hahn/Andrés Orozco-Estrada/Frankfurt Radio Symphony
    4.8 out of 5 stars 111
    Audio CD
    18 offers from $12.60
  4. Strauss[7 CD]
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Zdenek Fibich's career overlapped those of his countrymen Smetana and Dvorak,
but his music remained poised between the twin poles of Czech Nationalism and the
New German School. His earliest surviving symphony is No. 1 in F major, Op. 17,
completed in Prague in 1883. Whilst it is the most conventional of his three
symphonies it is excellently proportioned and reveals the influence of Schumann on
his developing art. Impressions from the Countryside, Op. 54 is, in effect, a symphonic suite and was highly influential on the younger generation of Czech composers.

Review

The sleeve promises that this will be the first volume of a Zdenek Fibich series, one of the almost forgotten Czech composers from the era of Smetana and Dvorak. He was certainly one of the most prolific, his output including seven operas, three symphonies and a vast number of piano pieces. While still in his teens he had attempted four operas, and was composing symphonic works in his early twenties. I came to love his music thirty-odd years ago with a recording of his dramatic opera, Sarka, and some years later with a fine recording of his two symphonies on Naxos (8.553699). Much of his musical education took place in Germany, and though we have a feeling of Czech nationalism in the First Symphony, that Germanic background is for ever present. It is such a tuneful and readily likeable score, I would place it on equal merit with Dvorak's early symphonies, though Fibich does tend to fall in love with his major first movement theme. The scherzo is less volatile than we hear in Dvorak, though after a tender slow movement, Fibich ends the score with a most jovial finale. The five Impressions from the Countryside, are pastoral in style and content, the music having considerable charm, while the bassoon solo in Fireside Talk is an enchanting moment. Often with the impression of coming from a folk-music background, it is a strongly lyrical score, with some unexpected rhythmical twists. The young conductor, Marek Stilec draws very good playing from the Czech National Symphony, an orchestra that has given me much pleasure in the concert hall over many years. I much look forward to future editions. --David's Review Corner, David Denton

Product details

  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 4.96 x 0.39 inches; 3.67 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Naxos
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 747313298570
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2013
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ March 2, 2013
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Naxos
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BGB3YUU
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
18 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Leo Tiger
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed having purchased this exceptional recording of Symphony No
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2015
Verified Purchase
Enjoyed having purchased this exceptional recording of Symphony No. 1 and his Impressions from the countryside. It is awesome to listen to

this music repeatedly.
Helpful
 Report
Stuart Sillitoe
5.0 out of 5 stars listening joy!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2014
Zdenĕk Fibich (1850-1900) has been described as the third of the leading Czech composers of the second half of the nineteenth century, coming after Smetana and Dvořák. His music, while less nationalistic than his compatriots, tends to be more personal while still showing an indebtedness to the music of his homeland, and is deeply poetic and Romantic.
The Symphony No. 1, composed between 1877 and 1883, is traditional in structure and shows little Czech influence in the music, being more reminiscent of Mendelssohn than of Smetana and Dvořák. It hasn’t fared too badly when it comes to recordings, with this new CD being the fourth in the current catalogue, true the earlier Naxos recording with Andrew Mogrelia and the Razumovsky Symphony Orchestra is easily forgettable, but the two other recordings, Neeme Järvi with the Detroit Symphony on Chandos and Karel Šejna and the Czech Philharmonic on Supraphon really are the recordings to judge any new recording by. Järvi’s recording is strong and beautifully poised and benefits from the mid 1990’s Chandos digital sound, however, for pure Czech passion the recording by Šejna is hard to beat, yes I know that the mono recording from 1950 will not be to many people’s taste, but what power, what drive. This new recording compares well with both Järvi and Šejna, it is the slowest overall, 36:45 compared with 34:13 of Järvi and a positively lightning quick 30:05 of Šejna, but it does not seem that slow! It offers the listener the poise of Järvi and some of the passion of Šejna, and in my opinion just edges out Järvi as a first choice for a modern digital recording, if not the superlative performance of Šejna, which even taking in to account the limitations of the mono sound, still remains my first choice for this work!
As to the suite of five movements entitled Impressions from the Countryside, this is new to me, as I imagine it is to most people, I can’t find another version in the current CD catalogue. It offers the listener some beautiful music, somewhat similar to that contained in his collection of piano pieces collectively known as Moods, Impressions and Reminiscences, a set of tone pictures with more of a leaning to Czech traditions than the Symphony. This is music that makes a good companion to the 1st Symphony and which deserves to be heard, 25 ½ minutes of listening joy!
The playing of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra is excellent, it may lack a little of the drive of the other performances of the Symphony, but Marek Štilec demonstrates a good understanding of the music as well as a maturity far greater than his 26 years (at the time of recording. This is a very auspicious beginning to what promises to be an impressive series, highly recommended.
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jeanne Dobos
1.0 out of 5 stars doesnt download. dont buy.
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2020
Not even customer service could download this. DO NOT BUY
Helpful
 Report
pmathis
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing series
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2015
I had such high hopes for this series , as there are almost no recordings of this music except some variable discs from Supraphon (all now out of print). Unfortunately, this seems to have been recorded on the fly, all pieces are played slowly, ponderous and without any thrill. Rehearsal time was clearly scant.

Recording quality is sub par as well, the orchestra sounding thin and projecting a cavernous acoustic. I hate to be so negative on discs of music I really love, but this is not worthy your (or my) Money. Shame on you Naxos, for doing Fibich such a disservice.

For a modern recording of the symphonies, get Järvi (Chandos) or Sena (Supraphon, not that great mono) ..for the rest just pray someone else will record them, or Supraphon to re-relase and remaster their older recodings (i.e, Valek, thickly recorded, but give the music some thrills).

Don't waste your money on this....
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Alan Watson
5.0 out of 5 stars The Unknown Czech
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
Writing at the same time as the great Czech composers Smetana and Dvorak Fibich's work has been largely overlooked and this Naxos release gives a chance to hear both his Symphony No.1 and his Impressions from the Countryside. Stylistically the works are deeply rooted in the late romantic period drawing on the melodies of Czech folk tunes but lack the polish and orchestration finesse of Dvorak or Smetana. The music is however present to listen to and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra under Marek Stilec do a fine job of bringing these works to life.
One person found this helpful
 Report
himajin
5.0 out of 5 stars ボヘミアのノスタルジー
Reviewed in Japan on June 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
1楽章の冒頭から流れる郷愁感溢れるメロディー、チェコの田舎臭い素朴さに癒される。
One person found this helpful
 Report
Pitou 1777
3.0 out of 5 stars Décidément, une belle découverte
Reviewed in France on July 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
La bonne impression que m’a donnée la 2ème symphonie est ici confirmée. Les mêmes interprètes tchèques donnent envie de poursuivre la découverte de ce contemporain de Dvorak et de Smetana, qui mériterait d’être davantage connu.
Cette symphonie de 36 minutes est assez déséquilibrée : le 1er mouvement dure presqu’autant que les 3 autres réunis, mais cet allegro est plaisant. Il est suivi non du mouvement lent mais du scherzo. L’adagio qui suit et l’allegro « con fuoco e vivace » final donnent eux aussi priorité à des thèmes clairement exposés et repris, mettant successivement en valeur les différents instruments à vents, bois et cuivres.
La suite symphonique « Impressions de la campagne » est effectivement plus dans le domaine des impressions que dans la reprise de thèmes folkloriques ou dans une tentative de description du paysage ou du temps qu’il fait (pas d’orage). Il y a dans 2 mouvements sur les 5 des danses qui nous évoquent immédiatement celles de Brahms et de Dvorak. Tout ceci est frais, gai, s’écoute facilement et très plaisamment.
Thèmes, orchestration, rythme : ces compositeurs tchèques avaient vraiment trouvé leur voie, sans craindre les ombres de leurs grands prédécesseurs ou contemporains allemands. A la même époque, nos français firent moins d’étincelles dans le domaine symphonique, à quelques très rares exceptions près. Le grand chef Neeme Jarvi ne s’y est d’ailleurs pas trompé, qui a enregistré les 3 symphonies de Fibich.
Enregistrement studio 2012. Commentaires en anglais seulement.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Arne Sande
4.0 out of 5 stars Worth having
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
Evocative less known Czech music with Naxos' best-looking type of cd cover, orchestra a bit thin sounding and maybe slightly under rehearsed but there is joy and enthusiasm. Worth having together with its companion disc with the orchestral poems. Am now supplementing these with Järvi on Chandos still to be found at reasonable prices.
Report
Ludwig VB
4.0 out of 5 stars I perhaps rate the second and third symphonies slightly higher but this is good stuff, let down slightly by a less than ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
For admirers of Smetana and Dvorak this is very agreeable music. I perhaps rate the second and third symphonies slightly higher but this is good stuff, let down slightly by a less than perfect sound quality. It isn't bad but is short of Naxos' best and is slightly disappointing for a digital recording. There is a slight reverberence and the orchestral sound is lacking in detail compared to the best recordings (for instance the excellent Naxos record of Sgambati's 1st Symphony).
2 people found this helpful
 Report