Search - Smetana, Kvapil :: Czech Piano Music 6

Radoslav Kvapil has recorded two CDs of Smetana for Unicorn-Kanchana. He offers some of the best-played versions of Smetana's music, comparing even with those of the great Rudolf Firkusny (which are unfortunately no longer available). The various sets of dances by Smetana are his best piano music, especially the exquisite Memories of Bohemia. It's a pity that Kvapil has devoted disc space to Smetana's Macbeth and the Witches, an extremely corny tone poem after Shakespeare that is downright embarrassing. But there is so much music on this well-recorded disc that you can skip Macbeth and still get your money's worth. --Leslie Gerber