Warmth and Clarity

There is something really special about the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra's sound -- a winning combination of warmth and clarity -- coupled with their zesty feel for dance rhythms, that brings a particular vitality to the most familiar repertoire (Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, UK, 18 April 2013). Smetana's Vltava, for instance, which they must be able to play practically from memory, had all the freshness of a new discovery, with a real spring in the polka, a moonlight episode that positively gleamed, and a choppy St John's Rapids that would have challenged the hardiest white-water rafter.

Freddy Kempf allowed his opening solo flourish in Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto to emerge from the first orchestral chord, instead of imposing his presence on it...