The music of Josef Suk

[Barbirollians]

I was amazed when listening to the Czech PO/Belohlavek recording on Chandos tonight to read in the booklet that Suk was only 18 when he wrote the Serenade for Strings as an exercise for Dvorak in writing music in a major key . What a lovely piece it is and dare I say it I think I prefer it to Dvorak's own.

[Barbirollians]

A charity shop delight . Suk’s A Summer’s Tale Czech PO/Sejna . Extraordinarily characterful performance - surely a work that would go down a storm at a Prom.

in fact very little Suk has made it to the Proms . aSummer’s Tale ?”,Ripening and Epilogue have never been performed there .

[smittims]

The story I'd heard about the Suk Serenade was that Dvorak found his early compositions were too 'deadly-serious' (as many young composers are) and advused him to 'lighten up', and the lovely Serenade was the result.

Late in life Vaclav Talich made some very emotional recordings of the Serenade and Ripening.

[LMcD]

A charity shop delight . Suk’s A Summer’s Tale Czech PO/Sejna . Extraordinarily characterful performance - surely a work that would go down a storm at a Prom.

in fact very little Suk has made it to the Proms . aSummer’s Tale ?”,Ripening and Epilogue have never been performed there .

In my case, the Suk and Dvorak Serenades on Naxos with Capella Istropolitana and Jaroslav Krecek.

[cloughie]

In my case, the Suk and Dvorak Serenades on Naxos with Capella Istropolitana and Jaroslav Krecek.

I agree the Suk Serenade is an absolute delight - Marriner recorded it with the LA Chamber Orchestra many years ago - the recording seemscto have disappeared from the catalogues!

[LMcD]

I agree the Suk Serenade is an absolute delight - Marriner recorded it with the LA Chamber Orchestra many years ago - the recording seemscto have disappeared from the catalogues!

Available from Amazon and elsewhere at sometimes pretty eye-watering prices.

[Pulcinella]

I have the Suk Serenade in this rather pleasant 2CD compilation.
Beware though: RVW's Lark also features.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7951536--string-serenades

[richardfinegold]

My recording of the Suk is the Orpheus CO and I have played it often. I don’t know if I would give it the nod over the Dvorak, but it’s lovely

[Barbirollians]

I have the Dvorak/Suk original coupling of these somewhere - liked them - haven’t played them for years - will dig them out.

[richardfinegold]

Have you changed your mind about Asrael, Barbs? I still have difficulty with that piece when past I

[smittims]

I've kept my Argo Lp of the Marriner recording of the Serenade. It;s a joy: one wouldn't know it's not the Academy . The couplings are Strauss' Capriccio prelude and janacek's Suite for Strings, an early, lyrical work.

[Barbirollians]

Have you changed your mind about Asrael, Barbs? I still have difficulty with that piece when past I

No - still too gloomy for me .