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Naxos Worldwide Sites
Complete Schubert Overtures from Prague
The Prague Sinfonia conducted by its Artistic Director, Christian Benda, recorded the complete opera and concert overtures of Schubert. The Prague Sinfonia is an enlarged formation of the Prague Chamber Orchestra and this is their first project. The overtures will be released on two CDs in 2009.
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Czech News Agency (CTK), Prague, Petr Veber
The Prague Sinfonia and its artistic leader Christian Benda have already done their first recording of Schubert's overtures and are now looking forward to participate at the Gstaad festival in Switzerland and later in Milan.
The new orchestra which is proud to have Vaclav Havel as its Honorary President has been presented after its first concert in New York City also on Sunday to the Prague public.
It has been 15 years since Benda started cooperating with the Prague Chamber Orchestra. The new orchestra was created as an extension of the Prague Chamber Orchestra and its whole name is Prague Sinfonia of the Velvet Revolution.
In Benda's opinion the so-called Velvet Revolution in 1989 was a continuation of the French Revolution. According to his view countries with democratic traditions are interested in the ideas of the French Revolution.
Christian Benda is known in the Czech Republic besides all his performances of the basic repertoire also for his 1995 concert with the very famous vocalist Barbara Hendricks at the Prague Castle and for his 2003 concert where he conducted the world famous American soprano Renee Fleming as a tribute to Vaclav Havel.
For the first time the new ensemble was presented on the 28th of October during the celebrations of the foundation of the Czechoslovakian Republic on the Czech National Day in New York. Vaclav Havel was present in person during this event.
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Stamitz Carl: cello concerti
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Christian Benda, cellist and conductor
 Diapason's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
"Dreamful elegies in which the cello reigns with exhilaration. Christian Benda adds panache and vigour to a perfect style and beautiful sonority. He gives this music an inner charm and perfection without superficiality. In other words, one hour of grace and harmony. What more could one dream of?"
- Diapason
"A CD that I recommend highly, a recording I could not live without." - mgog
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Benda Jiri Antonin: "Ariadne auf Naxos" / "Pygmalion"
Prague Chamber Orchestra - Christian Benda, conductor
Diapason's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
Classic CD
Classic CD's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
"Naxos bolsters its already huge catalogue with gems. Among them are treats in Benda melodramas. I can't imagine it better done. Splendid, formidable, excellent, quite outstanding..."
- Classic CD
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Benda Jiri Antonin: "Medea"
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Christian Benda, conductor and cellist
Classic CD Classic CD's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
"Enterprising as ever [Naxos]...The three speakers are
splendid... The Prague Chamber Orchestra is quite outstanding
and the engineers have produced an appropriately theatrical
sound."
- Classic CD
 Répertoire des Disques Compacts HIGHEST APPRAISAL
"A charming coincidence--evidenced by his poetically inspired way of conducting with purity and vigour--conductor and cellist Christian Benda, a descendant of Jiri Antonin, conducts triumphantly with irresistible nimbleness and lively intensity. The Grave is a miraculous aria of tenderness. The theme of great beauty is magnified by Christian Benda's effusive interpretation which can but thrill us. The sound technique is subtle, with remarkable enlightment and presence."
- Répertoire des Disques Compacts
"The Benda family dominated music in Bohemia in the 18th century, their fame and influence spreading to southern Germany. Now their distinguished relation, the conductor and cellist Christian Benda, carries on the family tradition. Here he directs Jiri Benda's most famous work, Medea. This magnificent performance recorded in Prague in 1994 has the market totally to itself, irrespective of price."
- smusic
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Benda Jiri Antonin: Sinfonias Nos. 1-6
Prague Chamber Orchestra - Christian Benda, conductor
Interpretation: EXCELLENT
"A superb interpretation full of dignity and an exemplary level of execution. Christian Benda imposes a perfect metrical elocution, a wonderfully realized counterpoint of timbres and a crystal clear profile of phrases as well as of every musical element of the composition. He leads his orchestra without compromising its freshness, spontaneity and vivacity. A recording bringing out the luminous and concrete intelligence of this interpretation with a sonority as brilliant as diamonds." -
- CD Classica
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Benda Jiri Antonin: Sinfonias Nos. 7-12
Prague Chamber Orchestra - Christian Benda, conductor
"It makes one happy to know that the musical tradition of the bohemian Benda family continues without interruption until nowadays. A quality of execution more than excellent. The orchestra's vivacity in the first and last movements and its perfect soloists are exalting in the best way these symphonies."
- CD Classica
"A worthy entry." - Tom Moore
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