Martinu: The White Dove – Songs 4

The final volume in this revelatory song series charts a twenty-year period during Bohuslav Martinů’s life. The early The Three Virgins, H 73 exudes an impressionist atmosphere enhanced by Martinů’s advanced harmonic language whilst the New Slovak Songs, H 126 was the result of a highly successful rapprochement between Czech and Slovak art, reflected in music of beauty and inventiveness. Nursery Rhymes, H283bis, though composed in perilous times, is full of wit and joy. American Record Guide wrote of Volume 3 (8573387): ‘[Jana Hrochová] has a golden tone and crisp diction, and Koukl plays with warmth and clarity.’