A Hero's Song, Dvořák's farewell tone poem, arrives at its dramatic peak when Jakub Hrůša takes his baton. The 20-minute micro-symphony is a mesmerizing blend of determination and despair, with the Czech composer's signature melodies unfolding like a triumphant anthem. Hrůša's masterful direction injects life into this lesser-known work, as the music hurtles between moments of jubilant hope and crushing desolation.
A more surprising find lies in Glazunov's To the Memory of a Hero, composed when the Russian composer was just 20 years old. This haunting elegy boasts two unforgettable themes that Hrůša shapes with deft sensitivity, navigating sombre passages with quiet authority. The result is an achingly beautiful work that showcases both the fragility and depth of human emotion.
Hrůša's programme closes with Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, an ubiquitous disc presence that can sometimes feel overbearing due to its sheer scale and complexity. However, under the conductor's assured guidance, even the most congested passages yield to his sensitive phrasing, which unlocks a new level of drama and storytelling within the music.
Throughout this absorbing release on Accentus Records, Hrůša proves himself once again as one of today's leading orchestral conductors – an expert interpreter who distills the essence from these 19th-century composers' scores. The combination of melodic beauty, dramatic tension, and masterful direction makes this album a compelling listen that will linger long after the final notes have faded away.
A more surprising find lies in Glazunov's To the Memory of a Hero, composed when the Russian composer was just 20 years old. This haunting elegy boasts two unforgettable themes that Hrůša shapes with deft sensitivity, navigating sombre passages with quiet authority. The result is an achingly beautiful work that showcases both the fragility and depth of human emotion.
Hrůša's programme closes with Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, an ubiquitous disc presence that can sometimes feel overbearing due to its sheer scale and complexity. However, under the conductor's assured guidance, even the most congested passages yield to his sensitive phrasing, which unlocks a new level of drama and storytelling within the music.
Throughout this absorbing release on Accentus Records, Hrůša proves himself once again as one of today's leading orchestral conductors – an expert interpreter who distills the essence from these 19th-century composers' scores. The combination of melodic beauty, dramatic tension, and masterful direction makes this album a compelling listen that will linger long after the final notes have faded away.
. I mean, who needs originality when you can just play some 19th-century composer's leftovers and call it a hero's song? Jakub Hrůša is probably just another conductor trying to get famous by putting out albums that will be forgotten in a year. The music sounds like your typical "sophisticated" classical stuff – all melodrama and no substance 
. And what's with the drama? Is this really something new or is it just more of the same old tired cliches?
And can we talk about how much I'm loving Hrůša's direction - it's like he's got a PhD in making you feel all the feels 
. But seriously, Glazunov's elegy is giving me ALL the sadness 
and that last piece by Strauss... wow, just wow! I need to give this album a 10/10, would listen again ASAP 
I mean, I love Dvořák's music as much as the next person, but can't we just stream all these classical albums on platforms like Spotify already? I'm sick of having to buy physical copies or support outdated record labels. And what's with Accentus Records thinking they're so special just because they released this album? Like, it's not like Hrůša's baton conducting skills are a secret... 
. I mean, I've heard some epic orchestral pieces in my time but Dvořák's farewell tone poem is something else. The way Hrůša brings out the determination and despair in that music is just incredible. And Glazunov's To the Memory of a Hero... *sniffles* it's so beautifully melancholic, I felt like I was listening to a symphony of emotions 
.
. And don't even get me started on the conductor, Jakub Hrůša, being some kind of genius or whatever 
And Glazunov's To the Memory of a Hero is like a beautiful, melancholic sigh... I'm sold on this album from just the first track! 
- it's like he's tapping into the composer's very soul. And that Strauss! you can feel the weight of history lifting when he's on the podium 
it's like a cinematic experience for your soul the way he weaves together those Czech melodies is pure magic 
and the way he navigates between hope & despair is so hauntingly beautiful