It would be hard to conceive of a more authentic performance of the new edition of this fascinating score. Sir Charles was a recognized world authority on the composer, having introduced much of his work in the west - though he had conducted very little of it in Scotland. We were, however, very lucky that he soon formed a close association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, so he would visit Scotland, and the Festival, frequently in his last years.
The soloists were all top-ranking natives. Perhaps most pleasing of all was to see Eva Randová, veteran of Bayreuth and Covent Garden, coming to Edinburgh for what is a very short role compared with the other three. The heroic-voiced tenor would return to sing Dalibor when David Pountney directed it for Scottish Opera. The bass had made an excellent impression in Edinburgh with the company from Bratislava the previous year.
The programme opened with a substantial symphonic work - Dvořák's no7 in D minor, which received a superbly idiomatic performance. The orchestra's other two concerts were also wonderful celebrations of Czech culture.
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