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The late Rudolf Firkusný was actually one of Janácek's pupils in his youth, and although he was exiled from his native Czechoslovakia when the Communist regime took over, he lived to return and perform there in the years before his death. This recording commemorates one of those historic concerts. Firkusný made a specialty of both Dvorák's concerto and the Janácek chamber works--he recorded them several times, but as one might well imagine, these performances are special. Not only does the pianist have the advantage of Franz Neumann and the Czech Philharmonic, but everyone involved also plays as though they are celebrating a family reunion after many years of separation. Of course, they are.
--David Hurwitz
