Pure Morning — Debut Album Launch

Bree Nichols’ debut album, Pure Morning, features the work of Czech composers Dvořák, Smetana, Janáček, and Foerster. It was recorded live with the North Czech Philharmonic in Teplice under the direction of conductor Jiří Petrdlík. The album’s blend of well-known favorites and hidden gems makes it a whole-hearted celebration of Czech opera and art song.

The album is named for J.B. Foerster’s song cycle Čisté jitro, which until this release had not been recorded with orchestra since the 1960s. Foerster’s rich orchestral tapestry vividly illuminates the texts of Czech symbolist poets Otakar Březina, Antonín Sova, and F.X. Šalda on themes of spiritual transcendence. Other highlights of the release include the Song to the Moon from Dvořák’s masterwork opera Rusalka, as well as the title character’s chilling scena from Janáček’s Jenůfa.

Pure Morning is available now on all major streaming platforms.

Conductor: Jiří Petrdlík Coach: Martin Vodrážka Producer: Jan Steyer Audio/Video: Matouš Pilný, Tomáš Lorenc

Made possible by a grant from the Presser Foundation.