What an excellent two days to choose to perform Smetana's magnificent cycle of six symphonic poems called Ma Vlast (that were composed between 1874 and 1879) - the dates were 29 and 31 August 2008. The idea of performing Ma Vlast on National Day (31 August 2008) must have been MD Claus Peter Flor's brainchild. It could not have been more appropriate as Ma Vlast means My Country.
Maestro Flor generally adopted fast tempi (as he usually does) but the orchestra (made of many musicians from different countries) did not quite adapt to Smetana's Czech idiom. Ensemble suffered as a result of Flor's swift tempi. Personally, I believe that slower speeds in Ma Vlast works better as the tone poems reflect musical life in the Bohemian countryside.
The Eastern bloc musicians identified with Smetana's idiom but some Western musicians were at a slight loss with the cycle. I wonder how the DFP/MPO orchestral management choose its players for each concert. One musician of note that was missing was the excellent principal flautist Hristo Dobinov. The MPO brass were not on their best form that night unfortunately.
Anyway, it was a good premiere performance but I am sure that the MPO would eventually get to grips with this wonderful score in time to come. A Czech conductor leading the MPO in a repeat performance would also help. Not one of the MPO's better efforts but there will be scope for further musical improvement next time around.
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