Martinu Comedy on the Bridge
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Bohuslav (Jan) Martinu
Genre:
Opera
Magazine Review Date: 5/1985
Media Format: Vinyl
Media Runtime: 0
Catalogue Number: 1116 3314G
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Comedy on the Bridge |
Bohuslav (Jan) Martinu, Composer
Anna Barová, Eve, Contralto (Female alto) Bohumir Kurfürst, Friendly officer Bohuslav (Jan) Martinu, Composer Brno Janácek Chamber Opera Orchestra Frantisek Jílek, Conductor Jan Hladík, Friendly sentry Jarmila Krátká, Popelka Jaroslav Dufek, Enemy sentry René Tucek, Sykos, Baritone Richard Novák, Bedron, Bass Vladimir Krejcík, Schoolmaster, Tenor |
Author: John Warrack
Not for nothing is this Martinu's most successful opera. Vaclav Klicpera's amusing little plot—about a group of people caught on a bridge between two opposing armies, unable to get a laissez-passer forward or re-entry back—needed just the deft, satirical treatment Martinu was well able to provide. His music is tart, tangy and quick-witted with off-beat rhythms and some salty bitonality that neatly underline the comic exchanges without dragging them down into any risk of sentimentality. What it says, it says lightly but with that particular wryness and self-mockery that is a characteristic of Czech humour; and Frantisek Jilek keeps matters moving along at a cracking pace with brilliantly acute contributions from his players.
The piece is scored for a chamber orchestra, but requires playing of soloistic skills, including from the nimble pianist. Jarmila Kratka leads a cast that has clearly had the greatest fun with the work. It is, of course, recorded in Czech, but the four-language booklet (Czech, English, French and German) gives the complete text as well as a brief introduction. The stereo engineers have had a high old time with a work that depends upon the situation of an animated assortment of characters milling to and from on a bridge with a sentry from each opposing army firmly established at either end. Most enjoyable.'
The piece is scored for a chamber orchestra, but requires playing of soloistic skills, including from the nimble pianist. Jarmila Kratka leads a cast that has clearly had the greatest fun with the work. It is, of course, recorded in Czech, but the four-language booklet (Czech, English, French and German) gives the complete text as well as a brief introduction. The stereo engineers have had a high old time with a work that depends upon the situation of an animated assortment of characters milling to and from on a bridge with a sentry from each opposing army firmly established at either end. Most enjoyable.'
Martinu Comedy on the Bridge
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.