JAN NOVÁK (1921-1984): Orchestral Music, Vol. 1 - Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra, Concerto for Oboe and Chamber Orchestra (First Recordings), Concentus biiugis for Piano Four Hands and String Orchestra.

Description: The music of this Moravian composer – a natural successor to Bohuslav Martinů, with whom he briefly studied – is nothing less than life-enhancing: it has Martinů’s rhythmic charge and his unflagging energy. And although Novák had such difficulties with the authorities in Communist Czechoslovakia that he chose to emigrate, there is an infectious optimism, a joie de vivre, in these three works from 1949,1952 and 1977,respectively, that is instantly communicative. A second volume of works for chamber orchestra (TOCC 0565) is also currently in preparation. Alice Rajnohová (piano), Vilém Veverka (oboe), Lucie Schinzelová and Kristýna Znamenáčková (piano duet), Ensemble Opera Diversa; Gabriela Tardonová.