Martinů: The Six Symphonies – review

These BBC recordings represent a personal triumph for Jiří Bělohlávek, who studied the symphonies of his fellow Czech as a student in Prague and rightly believes they represent a major contribution to the development of 20th-century European symphonic music. Those lucky enough to have heard his Martinů cycle at the Barbican in 2009/2010 can now revisit his incisive and revealing interpretations and enjoy again the thrilling playing of this world-class BBC orchestra. Written within the space of only 10 years, each symphony employs Martinů's thoroughly characteristic musical language to convey very different moods and emotions, from the epic first to the experimental, fantastic sixth. Recommended.