published: 22/05/2025
How did I discover Martinů, the composer ?
Let me think... it was recently, a few months ago, it was "by accident"...
Ah yes, I remember. On a regular basis (roughly once a year?), I catch up with the discography of a few performers that I find exceptional. To see if, by chance and good fortune, they have recorded pieces that I otherwise love. One of my favorite pieces, played by one of my favorite performers, this is the holy grail, and sometimes it happens.
So, a few months ago, I was looking into the recent discography of a few young pianists, whose musicality is in the same vein (but with their own sensitivity) as the famous S. Richter: Beatrice Rana, Anna Vinnitskaya, Bertrand Chamayou, and Andrei Korobeinikov.
Quickly, I stumble upon the sonatas for cello and piano by Bohuslav Martinů, performed by Johannes Moser (cello) and Andrei Korobeinikov (piano).
This is far from my usual favorite pieces, as I have never listened to Martinů, his name only vaguely rings a bell. But this is Korobeinikov playing. So I listen religiously. If there's any underlying magic, it is bound to work.
And bingo! This is really good!
How is it that I never listened to this composer before? given that I enjoy above all the early 20th-century period (Debussy, Ravel, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, ...).
Following this discovery, I start looking into Martinů's work. Ah, okay. He's been very prolific, so the journey will take time. Perfect, there's no rush 🙂. A trend is quickly emerging: his rhapsody-concerto for viola is a must-listen to get into his work. Good, I give it a try. Wow, it's a bliss. As the mandatory next step, now I'm searching for the interpretation of this work that would fit me like a glove, the one that would flow naturally, and which I would adopt for future listens.
This interpretation exists! What a joy to experience this moment of communion with the artist, even if it's from a distance and after the fact.
Meet Kristina Fialová. She is Czech, like the composer.
This is not the most common interpretation of this work, but the impression is immediately there that more than any other, this recording is the one which feels just right, intense and subtle, flowing, moving. As if the violonist (and the orchestra) fully understand the intent of the composer, and have the technical ability and the soul to play it.
Bravissima.
But there's a problem: even with perseverance, I can't find a way to buy this album, either on CD or as a high-quality digital download; only MP3s are available here and there. The CD is indeed available for purchase on the website of the record label, but it's in Czech language, priced in Czech currency, and who knows what the cost would be if they even ship to France... that's definitely not an option. Then for a moment I thought I had found a solution on a well-known and highly regarded music streaming site, which I won't name, but in the end, the FLAC files sold as CD-quality were just MP3s re-encoded as FLAC... no comment...
This story has a happy ending, which unfolded in an email I received, in reply to my message which I was ending with the question "do you have an advice ?"
Dear Guillaume,
thank you very much for you kind comment, I'm happy you enjoyed our Martinů!
Please send me your address and I will send you this Cd.
All the best and many greetings,
Kristina Fialová
Kristina exhibited a beautiful soul in her violin interpretations, now we know that her beautiful soul is genuinely all-encompassing 🙂
Her performance of the first movement of Martinů rhapsody-concerto :