esk me vnon – LP

Jakub Jan Rybas most famous work and a composition that symbolises Czech Christmas, this joyful and accessible piece was written in 1796. It is not a mass in the traditional sense, but a folk play about the Annunciation, the birth of Jesus Christ and the shepherds arrival at the manger, set to a familiar Czech text beginning Hej miste, vsta byste, written by Ryba himself. Many of its scenes are easy to remember, and the work has remained exceptionally popular since its creation, appearing in dozens or even hundreds of performances during the Christmas season. This remastered LP presents a classic, romantic and slightly nostalgic recording made in 1966 with Vclav Smetek, longtime chief conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK. It features the Prague Philharmonic Choir conducted by Josef Veselka, soloists Jaroslava Vymazalov, Marie Mrzov, Beno Blachut and Zdenk Kroupa, and also includes Rybas best-known pastorale, Rozmil slavku, performed by Helena Tattermuschov, with Jaroslav Josfko on flute and Jaroslav Vodrka on organ.