VA - Dvořák: Sacred Works & Cantatas (2015)

"Dad's God was not a God of revenge," but a Creator who, with his infinite love, sanctifies the path through the "valley of death," his son Otakar recalled Antonin Dvorak's sincere piety. For Dvorak, faith in God was the cornerstone on which he built his life and work, so it is not surprising that a number of his fundamental works relate to the field of sacred music and are often associated with a vivid personal history. The first version of the Stabat Mater oratorio arose after the death of his firstborn. After the triumph of the London premiere, Dvorak received new orders from the UK, which led to the creation of other important compositions: "Bride of the Ghost", "Requiem" and "Saint Lyudmila". The idea of creating Te Deum came from New York, where, after the premiere of the Symphony of the New World, Dvorak wrote "Biblical Songs", the pinnacle of his work in this genre. The set also includes rarely performed works (the cantata "Heirs of the White Mountain", "Psalm 149" in a previously unreleased recording by conductor Vaclav Neumann, etc.). At the same time, this new collection from the Dvorak series showcases excellent performers, and listeners will undoubtedly also be pleased with the carefully updated sound of the recordings. These jewels from the Supraphon archive definitely deserve exceptional attention.