Bedrich Smetana: Piano Works Vol. 7 (Sonata in G minor, Fugues, Rondos, Etudes, Marches)

Recorded at the Martínek Studio, Prague, June and September, 2014.

The complete recording of Bedrich Smetana’s piano works with Jitka Cechová is the most comprehensive study to date of this part of his oeuvre, which has unfortunately received far too little attention.

In the seventh installment, the Czech pianist presents some early works from 1845 / 46, some of which have even been recorded here on CD for the first time. Some, by the way, were later reworked or reused in other compositions.

Cechová succeeds in making a convincing case for Smetana’s piano works, which need not fear comparison with many far better-known piano composers of his time.

“Čechová gooses the variations on the Czech folksong, ‚Sowing the millet‘ with perky accents, highlighted inner voices and some truly explosive octaves…no quirky detail of the sprawling, early and ambitious 30-minute G minor Sonata goes unnoticed on [her] watch…a fascinating and excellently produced instalment of an important cycle.“ Gramophone, May 2015