Biography (read more)
Bohuslav Jan Martinů was born on 8 December 1890 in Polička, Bohemia, in the tower of St James’s church where his father was watchman. A violinist first, he played in the Czech Philharmonic and studied briefly with Josef Suk before leaving for Paris in 1923, where he shed his romantic training, experimented with jazz and French modernism, and found his mature neoclassical voice in the early 1930s. He fled France in 1940 for the United States, and died in Liestal, Switzerland, on 28 August 1959.
Martinů was among the most prolific composers of his century — six symphonies, fifteen operas, fourteen ballets, and a vast chamber output. The piano runs through all of it: concertos, the Double Concerto’s obbligato part, sonatas and cycles of miniatures whose motoric rhythms and bell-like sonorities are unmistakably his. His keyboard music sits at the crossroads of Czech folk inflection and Parisian neoclassicism, and the recordings gathered here let that blend be compared across interpreters.
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Repertoire
Piano Concerto No. 2, H. 237: I. Allegro moderato— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No. 2, H. 237: II. Poco andante— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No. 2, H. 237: III. Poco allegro— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Les fresques de Piero della Francesca, H. 352: I. Andante poco moderato— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Les fresques de Piero della Francesca, H. 352: II. Adagio— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Les fresques de Piero della Francesca, H. 352: III. Poco allegro— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Cello Sonata No. 3, H. 340: I. Poco andante— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Cello Sonata No. 3, H. 340: II. Andante— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 2, H. 286: II. Largo— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 2, H. 286: III. Allegro commodo— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 3, H. 340: II. Andante— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 3, H. 340: III. Allegro (ma non presto)— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Piano Concerto No. 4, H. 358, “Incantation”: I. Poco allegro— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No. 4, H. 358, “Incantation”: II. Poco moderato— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Sonata, H. 350: II. Moderato (poco andante)— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 1, H. 308: No. 3, Etude in A Minor— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 1, H. 308: No. 4, Polka in A Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 2, H. 308: No. 1, Etude in C Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 2, H. 308: No. 4, Polka in E Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 2, H. 308: No. 5, Etude in F Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Loutky-Malé skladby pro klavír (Les Marionnettes) Book 1— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Quatre Mouvements (Four Movements)— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Borová (Seven Czech Dances)— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Toccata— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Polka in D— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Polka in A— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etude— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Polka in F— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Les Bouquinistes du Quai Malaquais— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Cello Sonata No. 1, H. 277: I. Poco allegro— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Cello Sonata No. 2, H. 286: II. Largo— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 1, H. 277: I. Poco allegro— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Overture, H. 345— Vladimir Ashkenazy
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No.2, H.237: I. Allegro moderato— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No.2, H.237: II. Poco andante— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No.2, H.237: III. Poco allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Cello Sonata No. 1, H. 277: II. Lento— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Cello Sonata No. 1, H. 277: III. Allegro con brio— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Cello Sonata No. 2, H. 286: I. Allegro— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Cello Sonata No. 2, H. 286: III. Allegro commodo— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Cello Sonata No. 3, H. 340: III. Allegro (Ma non Presto)— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Les Ritournelles, H.227: I. Andante— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Les Ritournelles, H.227: II. Andante moderato— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Les Ritournelles, H.227: III. Intermezzo No. 1: Andantino— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Les Ritournelles, H.227: IV. Andante— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Les Ritournelles, H.227: V. Intermezzo No. 2: Andante— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Les Ritournelles, H.227: VI. Allegro vivo— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No.4, H.358 “Incantation”: I. Poco allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No.4, H.358 “Incantation”: II. Poco moderato— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Sonata No. 1, H. 350: I. Poco allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Sonata No. 1, H. 350: II. Moderato (Poco andante)— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Sonata No. 1, H. 350: III. Adagio. Poco allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano, H. 277: I. Poco allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano, H. 277: II. Lento— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano, H. 277: III. Allegro con brio— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano, H. 286: I. Allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano, H. 286: II. Largo— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano, H. 286: III. Allegro comodo— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano, H. 340: I. Poco Andante. Moderato— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano, H. 340: II. Andante— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano, H. 340: III. Allegro ma non presto— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No.3, H.316: I. Allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No.3, H.316: II. Andante poco moderato— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No.3, H.316: III. Moderato. Allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Piano Concerto No. 3: I. Allegro— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Olli Mustonen
Piano Concerto No. 3: II. Andante poco moderato— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Olli Mustonen
Piano Concerto No. 3: III. Moderato – Allegro— Olli Mustonen
Performed by Olli Mustonen
Piano Sonata, H. 350: I. Poco allegro— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Piano Sonata, H. 350: III. Adagio – Poco allegro— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Flute Sonata, H. 306: I. Allegro moderato— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Flute Sonata, H. 306: II. Adagio— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Flute Sonata, H. 306: III. Allegro poco moderato— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 1, H. 277: II. Lento— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 1, H. 277: III. Allegro con brio— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 2, H. 286: I. Allegro— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 3, H. 340: I. Poco andante— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Orchestral suite from the Opera Juliette (The Key to Dreams) for Large Orchestra, H. 253 B -…— Magdalena Kožená
Performed by Magdalena Kožená
Orchestral suite from the Opera Juliette (The Key to Dreams) for Large Orchestra, H. 253 B – Vivo— Magdalena Kožená
Performed by Magdalena Kožená
Orchestral suite from the Opera Juliette (The Key to Dreams) for Large Orchestra, H. 253 B – Lento— Magdalena Kožená
Performed by Magdalena Kožená
Incantation – Piano Concerto No. 4: I. Allegro— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Incantation – Piano Concerto No. 4: II. Poco moderato (applause)— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Fantaisie et Toccata, H.281: Fantasie— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Fantaisie et Toccata, H.281: Toccata— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Julietta, H.253, Act II, Scene 3: Moderato— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book II: Étude in C Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book II: Polka in F Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book I: Étude in A Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book I: Pastorale— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book II: Étude in F Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book II: Polka in E Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book I: Polka in D Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book III: Polka in A Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas, H 308, Book III: Étude in F Major— Rudolf Firkušný
Performed by Rudolf Firkušný
Etudes and Polkas Book 1, H. 308: No. 1, Etude in D Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 1, H. 308: No. 2, Polka in D Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 1, H. 308: No. 5, Pastorale— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 1, H. 308: No. 6, Etude— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 2, H. 308: No. 2, Polka in F Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 2, H. 308: No. 3, Dance-Etude— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 3, H. 308: No. 1, Etude in A Minor— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 3, H. 308: No. 2, Polka in A Minor— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 3, H. 308: No. 3, Etude in F Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 3, H. 308: No. 4, Polka in A Minor— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etudes and Polkas Book 3, H. 308: No. 5, Etude in F Major— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Pochod ko?ek v noci slunovratu— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
T?í ?eské tance (Three Czech Dances)— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Hry (Esquisses) Book 2— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Ritornely (Les Ritournelles)— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Okna do zahrady (Window Onto The Garden)— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Fantasie— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etude in D— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etude in A— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Pastorale— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etude in C— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Danse-Etude— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Polka in E— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Etude in F— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Adagio— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Sonata No. 1— Radoslav Kvapil
Performed by Radoslav Kvapil
Piece for 2 Cellos, H. 377— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Three fragments from the Opera Juliette (The Key to Dreams) /Trois fragments del´opera Juliette…— Magdalena Kožená
Performed by Magdalena Kožená
Martinů: Harpsichord Concerto, H. 246: I. Poco allegro— Mahan Esfahani
Performed by Mahan Esfahani
Variations on a Theme of Rossini, H. 290— Julian Bream
Performed by Julian Bream