In celebration of the “Year of Czech Music” in 2024, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of chief conductor Daniel Raiskin and featuring violinist Mikhail Pochekin, has released a captivating album titled “Dvořák – Complete Works for Violin and Orchestra” on Hänssler Classic. This collection pays homage to the renowned Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, commemorating the 120th anniversary of his passing.
The centerpiece of the album is Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, a composition that holds a distinctive place among its contemporaries. Violinist Mikhail Pochekin expressed his reverence for the concerto, stating, “I consider Dvořák’s Violin Concerto to be unique, and it occupies a very special place among all of the violin concertos of this period.” Pochekin shed light on the concerto’s unconventional history, revealing that its creation in 1879 preceded its premiere by four years, delayed by the dedication to Joseph Joachim.
The intriguing tale behind the concerto unfolds as Joachim, despite years of collaboration with Dvořák and repeated requests for changes to the piece, ultimately ignored it. The concerto found its premiere in 1883 through the hands of Czech violinist František Ondříček, marking the culmination of a story that adds a unique layer to the musical narrative.
In addition to the Violin Concerto, the album features Dvořák’s Romance Op. 11 in F Minor and Mazurek Op. 49 in E Minor, completing a comprehensive collection of the composer’s works for violin and orchestra. This release stands as a fitting tribute to Antonín Dvořák and his enduring contribution to classical music, capturing the essence of a remarkable era in the world of orchestral composition.
