Janácek (The) Eternal Gospel; (The) Excursions of Mr Broucek Suite

Volkov’s debut disc with the BBC SSO is a winner all the way

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Leoš Janáček

Genre:

Vocal

Label: Hyperion

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 60

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: CDA67517

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(The) Ballad of Blaník (Balada blanická) Leoš Janáček, Composer
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
(The) Fiddler's Child Leoš Janáček, Composer
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Elizabeth Layton, Violin
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
(The) Eternal Gospel, 'Vecné evangelium' Leoš Janáček, Composer
Adrian Thompson, Tenor
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
Gweneth-Ann Jeffers, Soprano
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
(The) Excursions of Mr Broucek, Movement: Introduction: Late Evening Leoš Janáček, Composer
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
(The) Excursions of Mr Broucek, Movement: Moon Waltz Leoš Janáček, Composer
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
(The) Excursions of Mr Broucek, Movement: Before Dawn Leoš Janáček, Composer
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
(The) Excursions of Mr Broucek, Movement: Song of the Hussites Leoš Janáček, Composer
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
(The) Excursions of Mr Broucek, Movement: Procession of the Victors Leoš Janáček, Composer
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, Conductor
Leoš Janáček, Composer
Fans of the Glagolitic Mass should definitely make a beeline for Janácek’s 1913 cantata The Eternal Gospel. Radiating a comparable spiritual and theatrical fervour, it’s a setting of a text by Jaroslav Vrchlicky inspired by the commentary on the book of Revelation by the 12th-century mystic Joachim of Fiore, that serves up a seductive brew of rapt lyricism and tingling drama. Much of the solo vocal writing possesses a truly operatic scope and there are some memorably ardent choral interjections. The gifted young Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov masterminds a laudably disciplined and full-throated account of this bracing rarity, and the sound has commendable spread and amplitude (especially in its SACD format).

The rest of the programme is no less enticing. The Fiddler’s Child (1913) and The Ballad of Blaník (1919) are compact and often bewitchingly lovely tone-poems with patriotic leanings; and the disc concludes with an orchestral suite from the satirical two-part opera The Excursions of Mr Broucek (1908-17). A thoroughly diverting 21-minute sequence it makes, too: just try the fairground sway of the ‘Moon Waltz’ or the young lovers’ ineffably tender tryst (‘Before Dawn’) that brings the curtain down on the first half. If it’s festive spectacle you’re after, the last two movements (‘Song of the Hussites’ and ‘Procession of the Victors’) have it by the spadeful. Performance-wise, I have no real grumbles. Although the music-making has not quite the irresistible tang you get from native interpreters in this repertoire, Volkov (not yet 30 and with talent to spare) directs with considerable flair and sensitivity. If their string section inevitably can’t match up to, say, the Czech PO’s for sheer heft or tonal lustre, the BBC Scottish SO play with admirable precision and infectious enthusiasm; leader Elizabeth Layton is a warm-hearted, songful presence in The Fiddler’s Child. Hyperion’s glowing natural sound-frame (courtesy of the Keener/Eadon production team working within Dundee’s Caird Hall) sets the seal on a first-rate anthology.

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