Václav Talich"s 1954 Má Vlast packs fewer walloping decibels in comparison to its better known Kubelik/Chicago mono counterpart, yet the miking is better balanced and falls easier on the ear. Moreover, Talich"s interpretations are leaner, finer-grained, and filled to the brim with soul. Virtually all traces of string portamento had vanished by the time Talich remade these six patriotic tone poems for the third time, but the woodwinds are more characterful, ensemble and solo-wise, and everyone benefits from faster tempos. A priceless document of a wonderful orchestra and the man who built it. --Jed Distler