Christopher Hogwood, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Martinů: Le raid merveilleux, La revue de cuisine, On tourne! (2004)

Who would have thought that Christopher Hogwood -- the man who gave the world so many discs of etiolated Handel and desiccated Mozart -- would also give the world one of the sweetest and most charming discs of Martinu ever recorded? Anyone who had heard Hogwood's earlier Martinu discs, that's who. As the historically informed performance practice school of interpretation collapsed in the '90s, Hogwood left behind the dry heroics of his Handel and the blanched colors of his Mozart and entered the witty, jazzy, and radiantly colorful world of Bohuslav Martinu. This recording of three of Martinu's ballets from the '20s with Hogwood leading the Czech Philharmonic will surprise those dry and enchanted listeners who have never listened to Martinu before. Hogwood is a sympathetic and enthusiastic Martinu conductor and his interpretations find all the beauty, all the excitement, all the humor, and all the humanity of Martinu's brilliant ballets. The Czech Philharmonic plays superbly and seems to enjoy not only performing Martinu's music but to genuinely relish performing it under Hogwood. Anyone who loves Martinu or who loves the music of the '20s will love this disc. Supraphon's sound is clear and vivid.