Karel Ančerl died in Toronto on July 3, 1973 at the age of 65. He had found refuge there after fleeing Czechoslovakia following the Prague Spring crackdown. Supraphon anticipates this fiftieth anniversary by publishing 15 Czech radio archive CDs. These are not only largely unpublished documents, but also works not officially recorded in the studio by Ančerl. Some are very important: a surly 7and Symphony by Dvorak (1962), Don Juan of Strauss in 1965, an extraordinary Asrael by Suk (1967). Among the other exhilarating moments: Holidays from Nocturnes by Debussy, My country from Smetana or Introduction and allegro of Elgar which has never been run with such fever. The box is rich in rare Czech works. The most interesting are Bang and the Autumn Symphonyof Novak, the 4and Symphony of Foerster, the concerto grosso and the 1D Symphony of Martinu, as well as Maturation of Suk. The musical portrait that emerges is that of an ardent conductor reminiscent of the Frenchman Charles Munch.
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