Asrael Symphony, Legend of The Dead Victors : Weller / Belgian National Orchestra

Josef Suk:
Symphony No. 2 "Asrael", Op. 27
Legend of the Dead Victors, Commemoration for Great Orchestra, Op. 35B

National Orchestra of Belgium / Walter Weller, conductor
Recorded 2009

Ever since the memorable Vaclav Talich recording in the Fifties, Josef Suk's (1874-1935) Asrael symphony has never really benefited from a reference recording. Yet this symphony, of a dimension worthy of Mahler, written a century ago by a man crucified by pain, is slowly finding its way into the limelight. Walter Weller grew up between Vienna and Prague, at a time when Talich was still active, and has known Czech music since the cradle. With the Belgian National Orchestra, he leads us into an intimate comprehension of this partition, written after the death of Suk's father-in-law - Dvorak - and for part of the work, struck by the death of his young wife, Otilie. Asrael (Angel of Death) is a unique reflection upon death, where sadness, anger, resignation and the overcoming of pain form an extraordinary storyline, a combination of intimacy and remarkable fullness of sound. Extremely rare in discography, the complementary work will be of interest to all the amateurs of Czech music and of works inspired by the war: Legend of the Dead Victors is Suk's tribute to the Czech soldiers who died during World War I; an extraordinary short piece suggesting another vision of how to overcome death. ( Fuga Libera )