BOHUSLAV MARTINU (1890-1959): Chamber Music No. 1 for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, Harp and Piano, H 376 (Ludmila Peterková [clarinet], Jan Talich [violin], Jirí Bárta [viola], Jana Bousková [harp], Karel Kosárek [piano]), Viola Sonata No. 1, H 355, 3 Madrigals for Violin and Viola, H 313, Duo No. 2 for Violin and Viola, H 331.

Description: Chamber Music No. 1 is a very late work (there was to be no No. 2; Martinu had been dead three months before this was premiered) and seems to sum up the majority of periods in Martinu's career: Czech folk music from the earliest period, neo-classicism from his Paris years, and the motoric, gently chugging rhythms fans of the symphonies will be familiar with; only jazz is missing, while the harp lends an Impressionistic character at times. The viola pieces are also from post-World War II, all three written for the brother-and-sister pair of Joseph and Lilian Fuchs and have all of the attractive lyrical attributes characteristic of late Martinu. Alexander Besa (viola), Bohuslav Matousek (violin), Petra Besa (piano).