Janácek Operatic and Orchestral Works
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Leoš Janáček
Genre:
Opera
Label: Decca
Magazine Review Date: 10/1991
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 118
Mastering:
ADD
Catalogue Number: 430 372-2DH2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (The) Makropulos Affair |
Leoš Janáček, Composer
Anna Czaková, Kristina, Soprano Beno Blachut, Hauk-Sendorf, Tenor Blanka Vítková, Chambermaid, Contralto (Female alto) Charles Mackerras, Conductor Dalibor Jedlicka, Kolenatý, Baritone Elisabeth Söderström, Emilia Marty, Soprano Ivana Mixová, Cleaning Woman, Contralto (Female alto) Jirí Joran, Stage Technician, Bass Leoš Janáček, Composer Peter Dvorský, Albert Gregor, Tenor Václav Zítek, Jaroslav Prus, Baritone Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna State Opera Chorus Vladimir Krejcík, Vítek, Tenor Zdenek Svehla, Janek, Tenor |
| Lachian dances |
Leoš Janáček, Composer
Anthony Dean Griffey, Tom, Tenor Catherine Thorpe, Merry Charlotte Hellekant, Mary, Mezzo soprano Charlotte Hellekant, Mary, Mezzo soprano Eugene Perry, Pierre Lafitte, Baritone Franco Pomponi, Watchman François Huybrechts, Conductor Lauren Flanigan, The Lady Valerie, Soprano Leoš Janáček, Composer London Philharmonic Orchestra Paul Groves, Dominique You, Tenor Stacey Robinson, Casey Stephen Mo Hanan, Barker, Speaker Thomas Paul, Gaoler, Bass |
Composer or Director: Leoš Janáček
Genre:
Opera
Label: Decca
Magazine Review Date: 10/1991
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 123
Mastering:
DDD
ADD
Catalogue Number: 430 375-2DH2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| From the House of the Dead |
Leoš Janáček, Composer
Antonín Svorc, Commandant Beno Blachut, Old Prisoner, Tenor Charles Mackerras, Conductor Dalibor Jedlicka, Goryanchikov, Baritone Eva Zikmundová, Wench Ivo Zídek, Skuratov, Tenor Jaroslav Soucek, Chekunov; Don Juan, Baritone Jaroslava Janská, Alyeya, Soprano Jirí Zahradnícek, Luka Leoš Janáček, Composer Richard Novák, Short Prisoner, Bass Václav Zítek, Shishkov, Baritone Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna State Opera Chorus Vladimir Krejcík, Tall Prisoner, Tenor Zdenek Sousek, Kedril; Shapkin Zdenek Svehla, Cherevin; Voice, Tenor |
| Mládí (Youth) |
Leoš Janáček, Composer
Alan Held, Donner, Baritone Birgitta Svendén, Erda, Mezzo soprano Birgitta Svendén, Erda, Contralto (Female alto) Birgitta Svendén, Erda, Mezzo soprano David Atherton, Conductor Diane Kesling, Wellgunde, Soprano Diane Kesling, Wellgunde, Soprano Diane Kesling, Wellgunde, Soprano Gary Lakes, Siegmund, Tenor Hildegard Behrens, Brünnhilde, Soprano Hildegard Behrens, Brünnhilde, Soprano Hildegard Behrens, Brünnhilde, Soprano James Morris, Wotan, Baritone James Morris, Wotan, Baritone James Morris, Wotan, Baritone Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Fasolt, Bass Jessye Norman, Sieglinde, Soprano Joyce Castle, Waltraute, Mezzo soprano Joyce Castle, Waltraute, Mezzo soprano Joyce Castle, Waltraute, Mezzo soprano Kaaren Erickson, Woglinde, Soprano Kaaren Erickson, Woglinde, Soprano Kaaren Erickson, Woglinde, Soprano Leoš Janáček, Composer London Sinfonietta Mark Baker, Froh, Tenor Matti Salminen, Fafner, Bass Matti Salminen, Fafner, Bass Matti Salminen, Fafner, Bass Meredith Parsons, Flosshilde, Mezzo soprano Meredith Parsons, Flosshilde, Mezzo soprano Meredith Parsons, Flosshilde, Mezzo soprano |
| Nursery Rhymes |
Leoš Janáček, Composer
Adrian Thompson, Maese Pedro, Tenor Alan Watt, Second Drinker; Second Soldier, Bass Anne Collins, Licensee; Third Woman, Mezzo soprano David Atherton, Conductor Dennis Wicks, Tutor; Police Inspector, Baritone John Reardon, Young man, Baritone Kenneth Woollam, Sergeant Tibault Leoš Janáček, Composer Leyna Gabriele, Girl London Sinfonietta London Sinfonietta Chorus Ludmilla Andrew, Lili Béguin, Mezzo soprano Malcolm Donnelly, The Artiste, Baritone Marvin Worden, Husband Matthew Best, Don Quixote, Bass Richard Jackson, La Poigne, Bass-baritone Samuel Linay, El Trujamán, Treble/boy soprano |
Author: John Warrack
Sir Charles Mackerras's Janacek opera series has been one of the major recording events of recent years, so it is high time for the works to be reissued on CD. From the House of the Dead (the 1980 Gramophone Record of the Year) was here recorded for the first time in its proper, original version; and this, the fruit of brilliant musicological work by Dr John Tyrrell, revealed it as even more of a masterpiece—a work, indeed, to count among the handful of masterpieces produced by twentieth-century opera. The loss of the final chorus, a sentimental addition, is but the most striking of the clarifications: throughout, the sound is sharper, the textures are sparer, and this serves both to sharpen the effect and to give the singers more clearly differentiated support. They are led, nominally, by Goryanchikov; but though Dalibor Jedlicka sings him warmly and well, the character is not really the hero of an opera that has no heroes and in which all are heroes. The prisoners are skilfully contrasted in Janacek's writing so as to make an apparently random yet actually well structured group, and there is not a weak performance among them.
The Makropulos Affair has, of course, very much a heroine, in the tragic figure of Emilia Marty; and Elisabeth Soderstrom gives one of her greatest recorded performances. She succeeds amazingly in conveying the complexity of the character, the elegance yet flinty cynicism, the aloofness yet vulnerability, the latent warmth that can flower into such rich expressive phrases and then be reined in with a sense of nervy panic. She is only really alarmed by Prus, the most formidable of the men around her, powerfully sung by Vaclav Zitek; she has amused tenderness for poor silly Hauk-Sendorf, another captivating little vignette from Beno Blachut. Mackerras is again masterly: the opera operates in many ways at a much swifter pace, with the narrative speeding by in a series of graphic strokes whose sharpness of characterization can need familiarity for its full impact. A recording is an excellent way of really getting to know such a work; but this is a recording to set among great performances of it.
As with From the House of the Dead, there is an essay by John Tyrrell that not only gives the listener the best possible introduction to the opera but is also a contribution to scholarship. These essays are repeated to all intents and purposes unaltered from the original issues, complete with music examples. There is also a Czech-English libretto. A few drawings, facsimiles and photographs have had to go, given the small CD booklet format, which is a pity.
The extra space available on CD allows, it will be seen, some generous fill-ups. Mladi and the Nursery rhymes come from David Atherton's splendid 1981 set of five LPs devoted to Janacek; the Lachian Dances set is a rather less successful companion to Makropulos. Nevertheless, the operas are what count, and there need be nothing but an enthusiastic welcome for their return on Compact Disc.'
The Makropulos Affair has, of course, very much a heroine, in the tragic figure of Emilia Marty; and Elisabeth Soderstrom gives one of her greatest recorded performances. She succeeds amazingly in conveying the complexity of the character, the elegance yet flinty cynicism, the aloofness yet vulnerability, the latent warmth that can flower into such rich expressive phrases and then be reined in with a sense of nervy panic. She is only really alarmed by Prus, the most formidable of the men around her, powerfully sung by Vaclav Zitek; she has amused tenderness for poor silly Hauk-Sendorf, another captivating little vignette from Beno Blachut. Mackerras is again masterly: the opera operates in many ways at a much swifter pace, with the narrative speeding by in a series of graphic strokes whose sharpness of characterization can need familiarity for its full impact. A recording is an excellent way of really getting to know such a work; but this is a recording to set among great performances of it.
As with From the House of the Dead, there is an essay by John Tyrrell that not only gives the listener the best possible introduction to the opera but is also a contribution to scholarship. These essays are repeated to all intents and purposes unaltered from the original issues, complete with music examples. There is also a Czech-English libretto. A few drawings, facsimiles and photographs have had to go, given the small CD booklet format, which is a pity.
The extra space available on CD allows, it will be seen, some generous fill-ups. Mladi and the Nursery rhymes come from David Atherton's splendid 1981 set of five LPs devoted to Janacek; the Lachian Dances set is a rather less successful companion to Makropulos. Nevertheless, the operas are what count, and there need be nothing but an enthusiastic welcome for their return on Compact Disc.'
Janácek Operatic and Orchestral Works
Janäcek Operatic and Orchestral Works
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