Kateřina Kněžíková
Phidylé
Songs by Duparc, Martinů, Ravel and Szymanowski
Kateřina Kněžíková (soprano); Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava/robert Jindra Supraphon SU 42962
This enchanting recording marked the solo debut on Supraphon for Czech soprano Kateřina Kněžíková, and it was a project that started just before the
pandemic and blossomed as a result, as she explains. ‘We were so lucky because we had the opportunity to play half of the album programme for the public.
But the other half was just instinctive – I couldn’t sit around and do nothing; I don’t like doing nothing. So I just grabbed the
‘Phidylé was a peaceful, strong and determined woman’
opportunity to do something and recorded the CD. It made me very happy!’
Her starting point was Martinů’s Three songs on Chinese texts, the recording of which would fulfil a long-held ambition. ‘It had never been recored by a Czech soprano before. There’s just one recording with a Slovak soprano and Jiří Bělohlávek conducting, so many years ago I had the idea that if I found the opportunity to record it, I would. It’s great music;
I love Martinů.’
Kněžíková turned to conductor Robert Jindra, an old friend, to help bring her album project to fruition. ‘I’ve known Robert for so long, I think maybe 20 years. He was my teacher when I was studying at the Prague Conservatory, and he has developed into one of the greatest conductors. And because he was studying singing as well, he is very empathetic with singers.’
Including the title work, Phidylé, was Jindra’s suggestion. ‘He had the wonderful idea to combine the Duparc songs, which I didn’t know. I just knew the name of the composer but not the work. It was like love at first sight; time stopped and I felt transported to another world. Then I discovered that Phidylé was an actual person! An amazing, hard-working, peaceful, strong and determined woman. She was the perfect name for the album.’ Michael Beek