BOHUSLAV MARTINU (1890-1959): 2 Suites from the Ballet Špalíček, H 214A&B, Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, H 337.

Description: Martinu described this 1931 (rev. 1940) work as a "ballet of popular plays, customs and fairy-tales" and it represents an early example of the composer's use of native Czech musical idioms in his Parisian neo-classical style. Lasting 97 minutes and incorporating vocal and choral parts, it was only ever recorded complete in 1991 by Supraphon and reissued eight years ago (03J012). For those shy of the human voice, this pair of suites, totalling 45 minutes, may be just the ticket. And the sound is spectacular. Mikhail Zemtsov (viola), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Järvi.