Dvoraks "Stabat Mater" is a work deeply inspired by personal tragedy in the composers life. Originally sketched between February and May of 1876 as a delayed response to the death of his daughter Josefa, the work was not completed in definitive form until late 1877, in the wake of the passing of two other children (daughter Ruzena and son Otakar). The work was finally premiered on 23 December 1880 in Prague, with vocalists and chorus from the Czech Provisional Theatre conducted by Adolf Cech. The work was first published early the following year by Simrock of Berlin. The score reproduced here...

The "Carnival Overture, Op.92" - second of the set of three concert overtures originally entitled as "Nature, Life and Love," followed fast on the heels of its predecessor. Work started on July 28 and the piece was completed on September 12 of 1891. The first performance was given (along with its two companions) on April 28, 1892 in Prague's National Theatre with the composer conducting the resident orchestra. The original title of the overture was "Life" which was ultimately abandoned for the more poetic "Karneval." The score offered here is a reissue of the 1955 critical edition of...