It has become an acknowledged fact that after having reached worldwide success and an absolute peak in horn performance, Radek Baborák (born 1976) has been dedicating himself with great vigour to ever new artistic projects which he often initiates as a soloist, conductor or artistic director of several chamber ensembles. Following two albums which he, together with his ensemble Orquestrina, dedicated to the music of Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, he now releases an entirely different project: a complete recording of Mahler’s famous Lieder collection Des Knaben Wunderhorn.
The original orchestration has been adjusted to the possibilities of Baborák Ensemble and its variable line-up of seven to sixteen players. The diverse and lively new arrangements which have been made with respect to the brilliant qualities of the individual instrumentalists (members of the ensemble include oboe player Jana Brožková and harpist Kateřina Englichová), appear to have injected new energy and youthful spirit into Mahler’s beautiful music. Baborák invited three internationally renowned Czech vocalists to collaborate on the album: Kateřina Kněžíková, Markéta Cukrová and Adam Plachetka. © Animal Music