I love Novák's Tempest too. Others will no doubt feel differently, but I don't know of a better piece by him, and most of his output is nowhere near on the same level of inspiration. I do have a soft spot for "In the Tatras" (V Tatrach) and the piece-formerly-known-as the Slovak Suite.

In the curiosity corner, there's the "May" Symphony, which I think is dedicated to Stalin...

We think perhaps Mr. Norman Lebrecht might be even more helpful. He tell us of "Eternal Longing" (1905) and "Timan/Toman and the Wood Nymph" (1908) that "both are heavily decadent and were performed together under the title 'Desire and Passion'." Madame might care to sample one or the other or indeed both of those.

Then the "Lady Godiva" of 1907 should not be allowed to pass without remark; as nor indeed should "Pan" (1910); but if she wishes to carry on in the rich vein of truly political music there is always the renowned "De Profundis" from the year 1941.

Indebted as we are to no doubt the selfsame member as Miss Antheil for our copy, we too are currently enjoying, in a somewhat jawdropped fashion, The Storm. A composer heartily ripe for further investigation is not he?

I have now acquired Lady Godiva, De profundis, Toman & The Wood Nymph (Chandos) and The Slovak Suite (In the Tatra Mountains & Eternal Longing - Virgin.)  Also have found this thread which was started by Mr. Grew last year which I hadn't read before. 

http://r3ok.myforum365.com/index.php?topic=773.0

It is wonderful when that happens George, this afternoon I have had Lady Godiva, Toman and the Wood Nymph and just into De profundis. NOM!

The 3 CD set includes the following

CD1 - 6 sonatinas op 54 (1919-20)

CD2 - Sonata eroica op 24 (1900)
      - Pan op 43 (1910)

CD3 - 4 Bagatelles op 5 (1899)
      - My May (4 pieces) op 20 (1899)
      - Songs on winter nights (4 pieces) (1902-3)
      - Youth (12 of the 21 pieces) (1920)

I've not been particularly grabbed by Novak's earlier music and this is confirmed by the 1899 pieces in this collection. The 22-minute Sonata Eroica (2 movements) is possibly the first work that points the way to more striking areas - and it's a protest against social oppression - and by the time of the Songs on winter nights, those areas have become particularly interesting. There is a suspicion that Novak is more impressive in his works involving orchestra: one of the reasons is the piano writing which (big generalisation) is not that of a composer-pianist. Indeed the big work, the 5-movement Pan often sounds like an orchestral transcription especially in the opening section. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but I do wonder if his orchestral version (made a couple of years later) will turn out to be rather more satisfying. The Sonata Eroica is rather more naturally pianistic, but even that seems to hanker after an orchestration at times. That said, Pan is a fine piece, though not in the same class as The Storm - I wonder if it ever gets live performances?
The 6 sonatinas and Youth were intended at least partly as educational projects and that shadow falls over the first 4 of the sonatinas, attractive though they are. I was rather more impressed with the selections from Youth, many of which are designed for beginners but are so elegant that it was easy to forget that.