Jiri Pinkas - Dvorak: Kate And The Devil (1993)

“Though this was never one of the best Supraphon recordings, it's perfectly serviceable.

The plot is complicated, and broadly speaking concerns the bossy Kate who, finding herself a wallflower at the village hop, angrily declares that she would dance with the Devil himself. Up there duly pops a junior devil, Marbuel, who carries her off to hell, where her ceaseless chatter wearies Lucifer himself. The diabolical company is only too happy to allow the shepherd Jirka to remove her again. Jirka, attractively sung by Milos Jezil, also manages to help the wicked but later repentant Princess to escape the Devil's clutches, and all ends well. The work has a proper coherence, and much good humour besides. Anna Barova's Kate is strong and full of character, but manages not to exclude the charm that should underlie her rantings at Marbuel, who's handsomely sung by Richard Novak.

Brigita Sulcova similarly makes much of the unsympathetic Princess. Jaroslav Horacek enjoys himself hugely as Lucifer and Jiri Pinkas accompanies them well.” ~ Gramophone