Search - FIBICH, Smetana, Jarvi :: Symphony 1 / Vysehrad Vltava

Fibich premiered his First Symphony in 1883, and he was for a time considered as important a composer as Smetana and Dvor?ak in his homeland-- not just for his three symphonies, but also for his operas The Bride of Messina and Sarka. He also became the greatest composer ever of symphonic melodrama, a now-defunct art form featuring spoken dialogue over continuous music. His three-evening trilogy Hippodamia is the Ring of melodramas. What all of this means is that Fibich had a strong dramatic sense which, allied to a generous fund of melody, makes his symphonies highly attractive. Since you're unlikely to hear them in the concert hall, you can enjoy this lovely performance at home. --David Hurwitz