Magdalena Kozená - Dvorák, Janácek, Martinu: Love Songs (2000)

Dvorák's Love Songs were drawn from his early composition Cypresses, a set of 18 songs set to the poetry of Gustav Pfleger-Moravsky. The texts are pretty much typical of 19th century love poems, while Dvorák's music is surprisingly commonplace for a composer of such rich melodic gifts. The first few measures of New Miniatures instantly identify them as being written by Martinu, with their spiky harmonies and syncopated rhythms. Indeed, it's these rarely heard songs that take up the majority of this disc, a fortunate thing for us and for this strangely underperformed major 20th-century composer. His songs venture beyond the topic of love and turn up a few surprises, such as Lullaby, in which a black woman in Tennessee consoles her young son as he cries because "he was not white", a subject that seems as far removed from Martinu's native land as we can imagine.
Those familiar with Janácek's operas should not expect to find the same far-flung style in his set called Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, which as the title indicates are arrangements, albeit highly original ones. The disc closes with Dvorák's In Folk Tone, considered one of his finest works. Mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená has done a great service in bringing this wonderful music to light, some of it, as with Martinu's Melodies, for the first time. She imbues these songs with an understanding and character that perhaps only a native Czech can, and sings with a wonderfully fresh and beautiful tone throughout all 42 selections. Kožená also has the benefit of Graham Johnson's idiomatic accompaniments which reflect his profound affinity for Czech music, and it's all captured in DG's excellent sound. In her CD booklet note Kožená says that her first thought in compiling this album was giving pleasure to Czech listeners. She has done so for all of us. – Victor Carr

Track List:

1. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 1. O,nasi lásce nekvete (Oh, our love does not bloom)
2. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 2. V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest (Death dwells in so many a heart)
3. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 3. Kol domu se tedn potácím ( Now I stumble past the house)
4. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 4. Já vím, ze v sladke nadeji (I know that in sweet hope)
5. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 5. Nad krajem vévodí lehky spánek (Gentle slumber reigns over the countryside)
6. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 6. Zde v lese u potoka (Here in the forest by a brook)
7. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 7. V té sladké moci ocí tvych (In the sweet power of your eyes)
8. Dvorák: Písne milostné (Love Songs), Op.83 - 8. p duse drahá, jedinká (Oh, dear matchless soul)
9. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 1. Bohatá milá (The Rich Sweetheart)
10. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 2. Opusteny mily (The Forsaken Lover)
11. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 3. Touha (Longing)
12. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 4. Zwedavé dievca (The Inquisitive Girl)
13. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 5. Veselé dievca (The Cheerful Girl)
14. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 6. Smutny mily (The Unhappy Lover)
15. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 7. Prosba (The Request)
16. Martinů: Novy Spalícek (New Spalicek / Miniatures) - 8. Vysoká veza (The tall tower)
17. Martinů: Ctyri písne na texty moravské lidové poezie (Songs for a Friend of My Country) - 1. Konícky na ouhore (Ponies on the Fallow Land)
18. Martinů: Ctyri písne na texty moravské lidové poezie (Songs for a Friend of My Country) - 2. Ztaceny pantoflícek (The Lost Little Slipper)
19. Martinů: Ctyri písne na texty moravské lidové poezie (Songs for a Friend of My Country) - 3. Písen nábozná (A Religious Song)
20. Martinů: Ctyri písne na texty moravské lidové poezie (Songs for a Friend of My Country) - 4. Pozvání (An Invitaion
21. Dvorák: Ctvero písní op.2 (Four Songs) na slova Gust. Pflegra-Moravského op. 2 - 1. Vy vroucí písne ( You heartfelt songs)
22. Dvorák: Ctvero písní op.2 (Four Songs) na slova Gust. Pflegra-Moravského op. 2 - 2. O byl to krásny zlaty sen (Oh, that was a beautiful, golden dream)
23. Dvorák: Ctvero písní op.2 (Four Songs) na slova Gust. Pflegra-Moravského op. 2 - 3. Mé srdce casto (In pain, my heart often broods)
24. Dvorák: Ctvero písní op.2 (Four Songs) na slova Gust. Pflegra-Moravského op. 2 - 4. Na horách ticho (Silence on the mountains)
25. Martinů: Ukolébavka (Lullaby)
26. Martinů: Pisnicky na jednu stránku (Songs on one page) - 1. Rosicka (Dew)
27. Martinů: Pisnicky na jednu stránku (Songs on one page) - 2. Otevrení sloveckem (Unlocking with a single word)
28. Martinů: Pisnicky na jednu stránku (Songs on one page) - 3. Cesta k milé (Journey to the Beloved)
29. Martinů: Pisnicky na jednu stránku (Songs on one page) - 4. Chodnícek (The Footpath)
30. Martinů: Pisnicky na jednu stránku (Songs on one page) - 5. U mamenky (At Motherns
31. Martinů: Pisnicky na jednu stránku (Songs on one page) - 6. Sen panny Marie (The Virgin Maryns Dream)
32. Martinů: Pisnicky na jednu stránku (Songs on one page) - 7. Rozmaryn (Rosemary)
33. Martinů: Nové slovenské písne (New Slovak Songs) - 2. Povedz ze mi, povedz (So tell me)
34. Martinů: Nové slovenské písne (New Slovak Songs) - 8. Mala som já rukávce (I had a blouse)
35. Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs, JW 5/2 - 17. Komu kytka
36. Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs, JW 5/2 - 5. Obrázek milého
37. Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs, JW 5/2 - 19. Pérecko
38. Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs, JW 5/2 - 16. Stálost
39. Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs, JW 5/2 - 1. Láska
40. Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs, JW 5/2 - 38. Loucení
41. Janácek: Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs, JW 5/2 - 18. Konícky milého
42. Dvorák: In Folk Tone, Op.73, B.146 - 1. Dobrú noc, má mila