Œuvres pour violon, piano et orchestre

Description

Bohuslav Martinu was himself a violinist, but the color of the piano in many of his symphonic scores is his true signature. Both instruments are given solo roles in the Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Orchestra (1953), commissioned by Benno and Sylvia Rabinof, who duly premiered it in May 1954. Written at the same time as Symphony No. 6 (Symphonic Fantasies), this remarkable work is rarely performed today. The case of the Violin Sonata No. 3 (1944), also premiered in the United States, has long been a staple of the repertoire for violinists worldwide. In the atmosphere of the imminent end of World War II and feeling homesick, Martinu conceived a monument whose duration is that of a symphony, a work teeming with contrasting drama and lyricism, and showcasing a nostalgia reminiscent of Dvořák, evoking his Czech roots. In comparison to the two "American" works, the Five Short Pieces (1930), dating from Martinu's Parisian period, contain much rougher and spicier harmonies, reflecting a penchant for the Charleston, as well as a tendency towards contrapuntal style. On their album, world-renowned artists Josef Špacek and Miroslav Sekera present Martinu as a clever creator of chamber music and concertos, an internationally recognized and Czech composer, widely known and still being discovered.