This Saturday evening at 8:00 on WHRO-FM, “This Just In” with Raymond Jones features just two masterpieces brought vividly to life by the Czech Philharmonic in new recordings from the label Pentatone.
First, we mark the bicentenary of Bedřich Smetana with his monumental cycle “Má vlast (My Fatherland).” Released in 2024 as part of the “Year of Czech Music,” a once-a-decade celebration begun in 1924 to honor Smetana’s centennial, this recording offers a deeply moving musical meditation on the idea of homeland. Conductor Semyon Bychkov brings a personal, layered perspective to Smetana’s great portrait of Bohemia.
The evening continues with another epic work: Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. Released on March 7, 2025, this performance is part of the Czech Philharmonic’s ongoing complete Mahler symphony cycle with Bychkov. It features mezzo-soprano Catriona Morison, the Prague Philharmonic Choir, and the children’s choir Pueri Gaudentes, all joining forces in Mahler’s vast and life-affirming vision.
Two epic scores. One extraordinary orchestra. Don’t miss these exceptional new recordings from the Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov, this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, or listen online via our Media Player and smart devices.
