There was a time when these works were so rare on disc that these performances constituted the reference editions by default. No longer. The Water Goblin is sonically dim and congested, and what you can hear of it confirms that it is well played but hardly the most exciting option available. The Golden Spinning Wheel is given in its traditional (Czech) cut version, missing about four minutes of music, to no real purpose. Here, and in the other two remaining works, the sound is much better but still not nearly as fine as in Talich’s Má Vlast or some other recordings in this series. Both The Noon Witch and The Wild Dove are comparable with the best–vivid and lovingly detailed in soft passages, powerful and gripping at the grim climaxes. But the simple fact is that you can do better, and so this issue will appeal more to Talich collectors than to listeners looking for the best combination of sound and interpretation. Recommended accordingly, with those reservations.
