"The Golden Era" of Rafael Kubelik

“Music has powers to summon forth the best in mankind.” This was one of the maxims of the conductor Rafael Kubelík , whose Munich career is now being celebrated in this picture book. His performances were noted for their innate musicality, impressive vitality and rigorous yet highly emotional readings. Kubelík was a humanist and homo politicus who stood at the helm of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1961 to 1979 as its principal conductor and made regular guest appearances with the orchestra for six years thereafter. His era has gone down in the history of the orchestra. Now, in memory of the tenth anniversary of his death on 11 August [2006], this picture book recalls Kubelík’s legendary years in Munich , where this Czech emigré found a second home.

Freedom was more than just a word for Kubelík : “Only in a spirit of mutual respect, friendship, and love can we human beings live freely.”

The new book, with its bibliophile appearance, opens with an essay by the former executive director of the Bavarian Broadcasting System, Albert Scharf . It also contains an interview with Martin Kubelík , the conductor’s son, as well as writings by Rafael Kubelík and articles about him in German and English.

Rounding off the volume are an epilogue by Mariss Jansons , the orchestra’s current principal conductor, and a brief biography of Rafael Kubelík .

DVD:

• Rafael Kubelík and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
• The rehearsal and concert recording of the overture to the opera “The Bartered Bride” by Bedrich Smetana. Producer: Hugo Käch