Czech Philharmonic to record Dvořák's symphonies with Decca

Prague, Oct 30 (CTK) - The Czech Philharmonic (CF) under the baton of Jiri Belohlavek will record all nine symphonies by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) with the Decca Classics transnational publishers, CF director general David Marecek has told CTK, adding the contract is now being completed.

According to CTK's information, the symphonies will be recorded live during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 season and they will probably be released gradually.

In 2014 the company is also to issue a complete box.

Decca Classics, an originally British company, is one of the most important publishers in the world. It is now part of the Universal Music group.

In the past the CF was recording with the Czech Supraphon company and also with the Japanese firm Octavia Records.

The CF will record all Dvorak's symphonies after some 25 years.

Belohlavek, 66, was the CF's chief conductor in 1990-92 and he returned to it this season after his six-year contract with the BBC Symphony Orchestra expired.

He says the recording of Dvorak's symphonies is one of the biggest challenges in the starting season. He is now studying the 1st, 2nd and 3rd symphonies that he has never conducted.

Belohlavek says he wants to sterngthen the awareness of the unique character of Czech music culture and to promote Czech music abroad at the head of the CF.

He said he considers the orchestra's planned concert tours of Britain, Germany and the United States one of the most important.

The CF would also like to return to Russian concert halls, minimally to Moscow and St Petersburg, Belohlavek said.

Japan, South Korea and off late also China are traditional significant destinations of the orchestra.