JOSEF BOHUSLAV FOERSTER (1859-1951): Cello Concerto, Op. 143, JAN NOVÁK (1921-1984): Capriccio for Cello and Small Orchestra, BOHUSLAV MARTINU (1890-1959): Cello Concerto No. 1, H 196.

Description: A late work from 1931 (the same date as the original version of the Martinu, which comes from a completely different stylistic world), Foerster's concerto is in three attacca movements (lasting 20 minutes) of which the first (andante sostenuto e funeste) and second are in the slow, contemplative, mournful mode of most of his symphonies' individual movements while things brighten up in the allegro (tre battute) finale. Novák's Capriccio, almost as long as the Foerster, comes from yet another complete stylistic world: American jazz. Clarinets and saxophones are the only winds in the orchestra and there is a drum set - and a second movement drum solo! - in the extensive percussion section. Syncopations and dotten rhythms are the norm; you won't believe what you're hearing coming out of a Communist country at the height of the cold war in 1958! Jirí Bárta (cello), Prague Philharmonia; Jakub Hrusa.