Smetana: Ma Vlast (My Country)

Bedrich Smetana's cycle "Má vlast" ("My Country") is not only the culmination of his symphonic output, it also occupies a unique position in Czech music and conveys a very special message of national character for Czech society. 'Sublime', one reviewer called the remarkable live performance of Smetana's Ma Vlast by an extended Collegium 1704 during the Prague Spring Festival of 2021. The Czech ensemble played on period instruments and thanks to the Czech conductor Václav Luks, Smetana's masterpiece is a "source of innovation, a living history that took listeners on a journey of pride and inspiration." The album can only be described in one way: a must for every music lover.