Karel Ancerl (1908–1973)

Famed throughout the LP era for his recordings, with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra on the Supraphon label, Ancerl conducted a vast range of music. He was also a survivor. When the Germans occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, Ancerl found himself deported to a specially created Jewish ghetto in the small garrison town of Terezin.

A vibrant artistic life flourished, in which Ancerl immersed himself. He can be seen conducting an orchestra of Terezin residents during a notorious Nazi propaganda film designed to show that the Jews had relocated to a wonderful new life. In reality, this proved only a stage on the road to Auschwitz where Ancerl lost his family, but he managed to survive.

After the war, Ancerl conducted for three years in what is now the Prague State Opera House, and then began an association with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, which saw him becoming their chief conductor from 1950 until 1968, the year when Soviet tanks rolled into Prague.  For the second time in his life, Ancerl saw his world crumbling. He left Czechoslovakia and became chief conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

There are 43 volumes in Supraphon's Karel Ancerl Gold Edition.  This is without doubt the biggest single reissue project of recent years, with Ancerl's recorded legacy displayed in all its musical depth, and in technical restorations that reveal Supraphon as being in the forefront of recorded sound.                                                                     

Photos:  Supraphon

To mark Karel Ancerl's centenary, a Supraphon DVD preserves Czech Television broadcasts of Beethoven's Violin Concerto with Henryk Szeryng, filmed in 1966 and Smetana's Ma Vlast from 1968, with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, live in Prague's Smetana Hall.  A documentary asks the question - Who is Karel Ancerl? - in which he talks about his life and is shown rehearsing Beethoven with the Czech Philharmonic.  Click Karel Ancerl to buy.