MILOSLAV KABELÁČ (1908-1979): Complete Symphonies - Symphony No. 1 in D for String Orchestra and Percussion, Op. 11, Symphony No. 2 in C for Large Orchestra, Op. 15, Symphony No. 3 in F for Organ, Brass and timpani, Op. 33, Symphony No. 4 in A, "Camerata", Op. 36; Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Minor, "Drammatica", for soprano and large orchestra, Op. 41, Symphony No. 6, "Concertante", for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 44, Symphony No. 7 for Large Orchestra and Reciter, Op. 52, Symphony No. 8, "Antiphones", for Soprano, Chorus, Percussion and Organ, Op. 54.

Description: As far as I can recall only the Fourth symphony has ever been available on CD and that probably because it is the lightest in mood of the whole cycle which begins with two symphonies either written or conceived during the Second World War when Kabeláč was living in a Nazi-occupied Bohemia with a Jewish wife; these are “war symphonies” to be sure. A glance at the titles above will show the composer’s fondness for percussion and for not instrumenting any two of his symphonies in the same way, although they all remain tonal if modernly so. Likewise, none of them really sound like any of the others following the Second, making it impossible in the room available here to cover each of them and to see if there’s anything that can be said to make them “sound like Kabeláč”. Better to just get to know what is plainly one of the foremost symphonists in the Czech lands of the 20th century. All brand-new recordings, made for this box’s release. 4 CDs. Pavla Vykopalová, Lucie Silkenová - (sopranos), Karel Dohnal (clarinet), Prague Philharmonic Choir, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra; Marko Ivanovič.