#199 The Smell of Flush

Smell the hesitation and passion in the first tone–how it does not know where to go, whether to continue. It's a young love at its best: to love and to be loved in return with all the flushes and intoxications.

Čechová had to be in love when she played it. You get the sense of a week body being dragged back and forth by unknown forces. It's so dedicated, so painful, so beautiful.

Composer: Bedřich Smetana
Work: Louisen Polka
Recording: Jitka Čechová

#56 The Smell of His Master's Voice

Smell the history. This recording was made in Vienna in June 1933, it's the first recording of the opera. Here's the conflict between Jeník and Mařenka. Each of them has his and her side of truth. They're not listening, it's not a dialogue but rather two monologues.

However, the music is telling us something: it's the same melody for Jeník and for Mařenka. They don't communicate but they belong together. At the end of the duet, they combine their voices, singing in tandem. They're separated but not for long.

Composer: Bedřich Smetana
Work: The Bartered Bride, "Tak tvrdošíjná, dívko, jsi"
Recording: Ada Nordenová, Vladimír Tomš, Chorus and Orchestra of the National Opera Company of Prague, Otakar Ostrčil

#15 The Smell of Parody

These small phrases are always so vivid and true for the first time–but then, they are repeated by other instrument, and then once more, and that's pure mockery.

It's all funny: alla polka, the false ending in the middle, pauses, last thirty seconds, all the affectation and pretending. Great piece of music.

Composer: Bedřich Smetana
Work: String Quartet No. 1
Recording: Škampa Quartet