New Arrivals/Restock

Title: Sparks from Ashes - Czech Songs
Artist: Nicky Spence
Label: Chandos
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 0095115233825
Genre: Classical Artists
Release Date: 2025-08-08
Number of Discs: 1

Hailed by The Daily Telegraph as 'a voice of real distinction', Nicky Spence possesses unique skills as a singing actor and a rare honesty of musicianship, all of which has earned him a place at the top of the classical music profession. Admired in particular for his interpretation of the music of Janácek, he has appeared worldwide in the composer's operas. Performing here with the outstanding pianist Dylan Perez, he presents a varied programme of Czech and Slovak art song. Bela Bartok found his lifelong enthusiasm for folk music sparked whilst on holiday in Slovakia in 1904, when he heard a nursemaid singing. Village Scenes sets five folksongs from a large Slovakian collection published in 1915, and depicts various aspects of a country wedding. Jaroslav Kricka became a central figure in Czech musical life, occupying the posts of chorus master of the Czech Philharmonic and professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory, amongst others. His Three Fables are settings of traditional fairy tales. Vitezslava Kaprálová was a composer of great promise who died of TB in 1940, aged just twenty-five. She studied conducting with Václav Talich and composition with Vitezslav Novák before moving to Paris where she was taught by Bohuslav Martinu. Her song cycle Sparks from Ashes deals with themes of love - found, flourishing, and lost - as do the eighteen numbers of Dvorák's song cycle Cypresses. Written by Kaprálová four years later, the haunting Waving Farwell was inspired by having to leave Prague for her new life in Paris.

Tracks:
1.1 Waving Farewell, Op. 14 (Sbohem a šátecek), Op. 14 Song for Voice and Piano
1.2 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~I. Vy, vroucí písne, pejte (You ardent songs, sing). Moderato
1.3 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~II. V té sladké moci ocí Tvých (In that sweet power of your eyes). Andante con moto
1.4 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~III. V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest (So many a heart is as though dead). Allegretto
1.5 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~IV. Ó, duše drahá, jedinká (Oh, dear soul, the only one). Moderato
1.6 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~V. Ó byl to krásný, zlatý sen (Oh, it was a lovely, golden dream). Andante
1.7 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VI. Já vím, že v sladké nadeji (I know that in sweet hope). Allegretto - Meno
1.8 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VII. Ó zlatá ruže, spanilá (Oh, golden rose, fair). Andantino
1.9 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~VIII. Ó, naší lásce nekvete (Oh, that longed-for happiness). Con anima (velmi bolestne)
1.10 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~IX. Kol domu se ted potácím (Around the house now I stagger). Moderato - Più mosso
1.11 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~X. Me casto týrá pochyba (Doubt often torments me). Moderato
1.12 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XI. Mé srdce casto v neštestí (My heart often broods in unhappiness). Andantino - Più allegro (radostne)
1.13 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XII. Zde hledím na ten drahý list (Here I look upon this dear letter). Allegro
1.14 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XIII. Na horách ticho a v údolí ticho (On the mountains quiet and in the valley quiet). Allegro - Più mosso - Meno allegro - Meno
1.15 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XIV. Zde v lese u potoka (Here in the forest by a brook). Andante - Meno
1.16 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XV. Mou celou duší zádumne (Pensively through my whole soul). Allegro
1.17 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVI. Tam stojí stará skála (There stands an old crag). Andante maestoso
1.18 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVII. Nad krajem vévodí lehký spánek (Over the countryside reigns a light sleep). Allegretto
1.19 Cypresses, B 11 for Voice and Piano~XVIII. Ty se ptáš, proc moje zpevy bourí (You ask why my songs rage). Allegro animato - Andante - Più allegro - Più mosso - Meno allegro - Più allegro
1.20 Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~I. Pri hrabaní (Haymaking). Largo
1.21 Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~II. Pri neveste (At the Bride's). Lento
1.22 Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~III. Svatba (Wedding). Vivacissimo - Grave - Tempo I - Allegretto - Più mosso - Tempo I - Grave - Tempo I - Allegretto - Più mosso -
1.23 Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~IV. Ukoliebavka (Lullaby). Andante - Più tranquillo - Tempo I - Più tranquillo - Più andante - Andante - Tempo I - Più tranquillo
1.24 Village Scenes, BB 87a, Sz. 78, Slovakian Folksongs for Female [High] Voice and Piano~V. Tanec mládencov (Lads' Dance). Comodo - Allegro - Pesante - Più mosso - Tempo I - Allegro - Meno mosso - Pesante - Più mosso - Tempo I - Allegro - Sostenuto
1.25 Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~I. Ty staré písne v duši zní mi (Those old songs echo in my soul). Andante amoroso
1.26 Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~II. Jak na hedvábný mech (As though on silken moss). Lento
1.27 Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~III. Ó zustan ješte, moje dívko drahá (Oh, stay a while longer, my beloved). Agitato
1.28 Sparks from Ashes, Op. 5 (Jiskry z popele), Songs for Voice and Piano~IV. A táhnou myšlenky teskné (And melancholy thoughts drift). Andante mesto
1.29 Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~1. O neposlušných kozlatech (The tale of the disobedient kid goats). A piacere - Tranquillo - Andante sostenuto - Poco più mosso, risoluto - A piacere - Tranquillo - Più mosso - Allegro (molto) - A piacere - Quieto - Più mosso - Allegro -
1.30 Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~2. Pohádka o kohoutkovi a slepicce (The tale of the rooster and the hen). Con moto moderato - Sostenuto assai - Andante - Tempo I - Sostenuto - Andante - Quasi tempo I - Sostenuto - Allegretto grazioso - Come sopra - Tempo I (poco più) - Sostenuto - Al
1.31 Three Fables for Soprano [High Voice] and Piano~3. Jeráb a volavka (The crane and the heron). Ze sbírky Afanasjevovy v prekladu Jeronyma Holecka. Allegretto - Meno, giusto - Come sopra - Recitativo a piacere - Andante - Allegro - Andante - Poco mosso - Rychle [Quickly] - Allegro agitato - Recitativo