The Prague Connection

This one is a recital disk by Czech mezzo Magdelena Kozena accompanied by the Prague Philharmonia directed by Michel Swierczewski. It is a disk of 18th century operatic arias and Kozena was anxious to showcase some lesser known Czech music alongside Mozart and Gluck. Gluck himself had early roots in Bohemia and Prague although he is more associated with naples and Vienna but the main thrust of the Czech connection here is the inclusion of pieces by Josef Myslivecek. There are a couple of particularly well known Mozart arias on the disk but apart from the familiarity of these, the works blend well and the lesser known pieces need not feel any inferiority complex. There is a uniformity of Italianate style, although the three composers suffered greatly differing fortunes during their lives, as did their sunbsequent reputations. Myslivecek died in poverty in Rome and despite the good intentions of this disk recorded by Kozena in 2001, there have been few signs of any real revival of interest in staging his operas. The performances by both singer and band can't be faulted though and this remains a thoroughly well thought through and musical recital disk.