Bedřich Smetana - Má vlast / Mein Fatherland / My Country

Notes on sound (not artistic) quality of some releases on LP.

General technical issue

The cycle consists of 6 parts which are notoriously fitted on 2 LPs. The 2 sides that encompass 2 parts are typically 23 - 28 minutes long and thus prone to inner groove distortion.

Rafael Kubelik Recordings

5 his recordings chronologically:

Chicago Symphony Orchestra,Mercury

Mono recording

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, rec. 1958 for Decca

Discogs

Analogue Anorak reports:

Speakers Corner Reissue

???

Boston Symphony Orchestra, rec. 1971 for Deutsche Grammophon

Discogs

Narrow, nasal sound, especially in strings.

The Original Source Series Reissue

Analogue Anorak reports the reissue sounds better than the 1958 Decca recording, however complains about inner groove distortion at side 2 and 4.

Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, 1984, Orfeo

Digital recording

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, rec. 1990, Supraphon

Digital recording

Recordings by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Václav Talich, rec. 1954, Supraphon

Mono recording.

Karel Ancerl, rec. 1963, Supraphon

Discogs

Subpar string sound, similar to that of Kubelik 1971 DD recording, but a little more bearable.

Vaclav Smetacek, rec. 1980, Supraphon

Discogs

Digital recording, as well as all the later recordings.

Other notable recordings

Walter Susskind, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, rec. 1975, Turnabout

Dave Hurwitz reports the recording is great, however the original release on vinyl did not sound so good

Paavo Berglund, Staatskapelle Dresden, rec. 1979, EMI

Unfortunatelly Ma vlast is fitted on 3 sides, accompanied by 2 more Dvorak's works on side 4. Thus side 1 and 3 are about 28 minutes long. I do not believe Vltava finale can sound good 60mm from spindle. Other than that, Dave Hurwitz reports the recording itself to be perfect

Jakub Hrůša, Bamberger Symphoniker, rec. 2020

Direct cut, the Holy Grale, 3 LPs, 45rpm ... limited edition not available for reasonable price any more