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Complete Schubert Overtures
Music, Right Through the Bone
A great new recording. The overtures are performed with wonderful verve by the Prague Sinfonia, under Christian Benda.
Maximum rate (++++)
THE MELODIES LINGER ON
The flourishing melodic gifts of Franz Schubert will give a listener tremendous enjoyment – partly because of its novelty but mostly because of its sheer beauty - and all the overtures are played stylishly by the Prague Sinfonia under Christian Benda. Gorgeous melody, cleverly varied instrumentation, and occasional forays into skillful tone-painting - a joy to owners of this recording.
From the very opening measures it’s clear the Prague players relish these sun-lit and tuneful pieces and respond with great enthusiasm and affection to the taut leadership of their chief conductor and artistic director, Christian Benda. (Yes, he’s a descendant of the prominent 18th Century Czech Bendas, and in fact—as our Index shows—he has recorded several works by that noble dynasty.) Tempos seemed spot-on—never rushed or too aggressive…
American Record Guide
Christian Benda and the members of the Prague Sinfonia take an agreeably genial approach to music that presses so many familiar buttons in slightly unfamiliar ways that it’s hard not to be regularly charmed by the endeavour.
Christian Benda, scion of the illustrious Bohemian family of musicians, digs into these scores with gusto and the Prague Sinfonia rewards the listener with enthusiastic response and great sound.
You put this disc on—and are immediately transported with a sense of sheer delight. What is more, this continues throughout the disc as one engaging work follows another. At the end you pour yourself another cup of Earl Grey and start again. Well, at least that was my experience… Over and over again the listener will find themselves delighted by a turn of phrase, an unexpected harmony or deft orchestration and by the bright but affectionate performances of the Prague Sinfonia and Christian Benda.
The result is a nicely transparent texture with Benda’s vibrant and well-paced performances.
Fine performances, at once unmannered, animated but unhurried, and benefitting from transparent orchestral textures and a sonority that is never too weighty.
FANFARE
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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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