Immerse yourself in the profound and captivating world of Bohuslav Martinů's "The Greek Passion, H. 372," a masterful opera that stands as one of the composer's most significant works. Released on April 21, 2017, under the Oehms Classics label, this album offers a rich and immersive experience that spans over two hours and seventeen minutes, divided into 43 meticulously crafted tracks.
"The Greek Passion" is an opera in four acts, based on the novel by renowned Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. Martinů's composition is a testament to his genius, blending neoclassical and chamber music elements to create a deeply moving and thought-provoking narrative. The opera delves into themes of faith, redemption, and the human condition, all set against the backdrop of a small Greek village during the Passion Week.
The album features a stellar cast of vocalists and musicians, each bringing their unique talents to the stage. The intricate orchestration and powerful performances make this recording a standout in Martinů's discography. From the haunting melodies of Act I to the dramatic crescendos of Act IV, every moment is filled with intensity and beauty.
Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or new to the genre, "The Greek Passion, H. 372" offers a compelling and enriching experience. The opera's timeless themes and Martinů's masterful composition make it a treasure for anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling through music. Dive into the world of "The Greek Passion" and let the music transport you to a place of deep reflection and inspiration.
2017 Oehms Classics2017 Oehms Classics
Tracks
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Lord, My Lord!Bohuslav Martinů, Wilfried Zelinka, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: This World Is a Real Success!Bohuslav Martinů, Dietmar Hirzberger, Falk Witzurke, Ivan Orescanin, Wilfried Zelinka, Tino Sekay, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: La, La, La!Bohuslav Martinů, Falk Witzurke, Ivan Orescanin, Dietmar Hirzberger, Wilfried Zelinka, Tino Sekay, Dariusz Perczak, Manuel von Senden, Martin Fournier, Taylan Reinhard, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Approach, Manolios, ApproachBohuslav Martinů, Wilfried Zelinka, Rolf Romei, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Don't You Notice Me, My Lord?Bohuslav Martinů, Tatjana Miyus, Rolf Romei, Dietmar Hirzberger, Manuel von Senden, Dariusz Perczak, Martin Fournier, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Listen to That!Bohuslav Martinů, Martin Fournier, Manuel von Senden, Dariusz Perczak, Rolf Romei, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Lord! Lord!Bohuslav Martinů, Rolf Romei, Martin Fournier, Markus Butter, Dshamilja Kaiser, Konstantin Sfiris, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Katerina, What Are You After Here Among All These Men?Bohuslav Martinů, Taylan Reinhard, Dshamilja Kaiser, Sofía Mara, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Who Are You? What Are You Doing Here?Bohuslav Martinů, Wilfried Zelinka, Markus Butter, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: He Looks like the Apostle JamesBohuslav Martinů, Dariusz Perczak, Manuel von Senden, Rolf Romei, Wilfried Zelinka, Sofía Mara, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: My Sons, at This Very MomentBohuslav Martinů, Wilfried Zelinka, Markus Butter, Ivan Orescanin, Dietmar Hirzberger, Falk Witzurke, Tino Sekay, Yuan Zhang, Rolf Romei, Dshamilja Kaiser, Manuel von Senden, Martin Fournier, Taylan Reinhard, Dariusz Perczak, Tatjana Miyus, Richard Friedemann Jähnig, Sanggyoul Lee, Christian Scherler, Sofía Mara, Konstantin Sfiris, David McShane, Benjamin Plautz, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: I Have Nothing Else, My SistersBohuslav Martinů, Dshamilja Kaiser, Taylan Reinhard, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: Father, Tonight You Can Rest on the Sarakina MountBohuslav Martinů, Rolf Romei, Manuel von Senden, Dariusz Perczak, Markus Butter, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act I: May the Race Take RootBohuslav Martinů, Rolf Romei, Manuel von Senden, Martin Fournier, Dariusz Perczak, Markus Butter, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Then... The Deep PeaceBohuslav Martinů, Benjamin Plautz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Here My SonBohuslav Martinů, Manuel von Senden, Dshamilja Kaiser, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Hi, Yannakos!Bohuslav Martinů, Tino Sekay, Manuel von Senden, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Yannakos!Bohuslav Martinů, Rolf Romei, Manuel von Senden, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Manolios! Manolios!Bohuslav Martinů, Dshamilja Kaiser, Rolf Romei, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Three Times I Have Seen Villages PlantedBohuslav Martinů, Konstantin Sfiris, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Here We'll Build the Gate!Bohuslav Martinů, Markus Butter, Manuel von Senden, Konstantin Sfiris, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Here Is a Good Man from LycovrissiBohuslav Martinů, Markus Butter, Manuel von Senden, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act II: Father! Father! The Old Man Is Dead!Bohuslav Martinů, Markus Butter, Manuel von Senden, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: Eat! Eat!Bohuslav Martinů, Christian Scherler, Rolf Romei, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: Manolios! Manolios!Bohuslav Martinů, Tatjana Miyus, Wilfried Zelinka, Dshamilja Kaiser, Rolf Romei, Christian Scherler, Manuel von Senden, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: Manolios! What's the Matter?Bohuslav Martinů, Tatjana Miyus, Rolf Romei, Christian Scherler, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: Who Is There?Bohuslav Martinů, Dshamilja Kaiser, Rolf Romei, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: I'm Son of the LightBohuslav Martinů, Manuel von Senden, Dshamilja Kaiser, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: What Is He Talking About?Bohuslav Martinů, Wilfried Zelinka, Ivan Orescanin, Rolf Romei, Yuan Zhang, Richard Friedemann Jähnig, Sanggyoul Lee, Tino Sekay, Taylan Reinhard, Martin Fournier, Manuel von Senden, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: Christ Is Still AliveBohuslav Martinů, Rolf Romei, Christian Scherler, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act III: I Would Like to Tell You an AdventureBohuslav Martinů, Rolf Romei, Martin Fournier, Manuel von Senden, Dariusz Perczak, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Oh! As the Apple Tree Among the TreesBohuslav Martinů, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Today Lenio and Nikolio Are Celebrating Their WeddingBohuslav Martinů, Ivan Orescanin, Tatjana Miyus, Christian Scherler, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: God Called Up the DayBohuslav Martinů, Benjamin Plautz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: It's Manolios!Bohuslav Martinů, Wilfried Zelinka, Tino Sekay, Taylan Reinhard, Markus Butter, Ivan Orescanin, Dietmar Hirzberger, Yuan Zhang, Falk Witzurke, Rolf Romei, Dshamilja Kaiser, Manuel von Senden, Martin Fournier, Dariusz Perczak, Tatjana Miyus, Richard Friedemann Jähnig, Sanggyoul Lee, Christian Scherler, Sofía Mara, Konstantin Sfiris, David McShane, Benjamin Plautz, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Brothers, Christians!Bohuslav Martinů, Wilfried Zelinka, Martin Fournier, Manuel von Senden, Dariusz Perczak, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Men, Listen to Me!Bohuslav Martinů, Rolf Romei, Manuel von Senden, Wilfried Zelinka, Taylan Reinhard, Tino Sekay, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: It Is Christmas EveBohuslav Martinů, Benjamin Plautz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Don't Awake Him, He's DreamingBohuslav Martinů, Yuan Zhang, Benjamin Plautz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Manolios Is Dead, Let's Pray for HimBohuslav Martinů, Markus Butter, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Gloria, Gloria, Alleluja!Bohuslav Martinů, Markus Butter, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: The Name of the Young Man Was Written on the SnowBohuslav Martinů, Dshamilja Kaiser, Markus Butter, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
The Greek Passion, H. 372 (Ed. A. Březina), Act IV: Alleluja!Bohuslav Martinů, Dshamilja Kaiser, Graz Opera Chorus, Chor der Kunstuniversität Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Dirk Kaftan
Bohuslav Martinů, born in 1890 in Polička, Czech Republic, is celebrated as one of the most prolific and versatile composers of the 20th century. His musical journey is a testament to his eclectic influences, ranging from French impressionism and neoclassicism to jazz and folk music. Martinů began his musical education at the age of six, playing the violin and composing his first piece at just thirteen. His early talent earned him a scholarship to the Prague Conservatory, where he honed his skills and began his career as a composer, violinist, and music critic.
Martinů's compositions span a wide array of genres, including symphonies, operas, and ballets, each reflecting his unique blend of traditional and modern elements. Works like "Julietta," "Taras Bulba," and his "Field Mass" are just a few examples of his extensive and diverse repertoire. His music is known for its emotional depth and technical brilliance, making him a standout figure in the world of classical music.
Throughout his life, Martinů's travels and experiences shaped his artistic vision. From his roots in Polička to his time in Paris and New York, his compositions tell a story of a man deeply connected to his Czech heritage yet open to the world's diverse musical influences. Martinů's legacy endures, inspiring musicians and audiences alike with his timeless compositions.
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Bohuslav Martinů
