Presto Recordings of the Year, Smetana (composer)

The PHQ understand absolutely the plasticity of Smetana’s vision and convey it unerringly, unshrinkingly – and in some ways even more convincingly than the Talich, which is saying something.... — Gramophone Magazine More…

Bělohlávek clearly knew that Smetana, far from being a cheap purveyor of catchy melodies and moment-to-moment thrills, was a sure-footed musical architect, and this recording pays the long... — Gramophone Magazine, March 2018 More…

The PHQ understand absolutely the plasticity of Smetana’s vision and convey it unerringly, unshrinkingly – and in some ways even more convincingly than the Talich, which is saying something.... — Gramophone Magazine More…

Written during a very turbulent period in the composer’s life, Smetana’s 1855 Piano Trio is a work of considerable mood swings and unexpected twists and turns. At times, it is also heartbreakingly... — BBC Music Magazine, November 2024, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Notwithstanding the essential simplicity of their form, Smetana imbues [the Czech Dances] with considerable sophistication. The first has a musing, reflective quality captured beautifully by... — BBC Music Magazine, June 2016, 4 out of 5 stars More…

There is much to admire here from the excellent Jerusalem Quartet. In Smetana's First Quartet there is the fine opening viola melody...The slow movements of the Janacek quartets are also carefully... — Gramophone Magazine, March 2014 More…

For me this magnificent set of Smetana’s complete operas is a sort of Má vlast for the stage, the dances (there are many to savour) and tone poetry supplemented by a rich fund of wonderful melodies...... — Rob Cowan, Presto Music, 16th September 2024 More…