Janacek Piano Works

[Holden]

Aren't classical stations wonderful. Yet again I've been driving along and a piece of unknown music has jumped out at me that I just have to hear again. This time it was "The barn owl has not flown away!" from his "On an Overgrown Path". Intrigued I went to Russian DVD and got a performance from Radoslav Kvapil of the whole work plus other pieces. In short I really like this music and can see how I'd use it.

Amazon has CDs by Austbo, Rudy, Firkusny, Adsnes, Kuwiec, Tirimo, Schiff, Kvapil, etc.

any recommendations for this really enjoyable and quite striking piano music?

[mahler10th]

Aren't classical stations wonderful. Yet again I've been driving along and a piece of unknown music has jumped out at me that I just have to hear again. This time it was "The barn owl has not flown away!" from his "On an Overgrown Path". Intrigued I went to Russian DVD and got a performance from Radoslav Kvapil of the whole work plus other pieces. In short I really like this music and can see how I'd use it.

Amazon has CDs by Austbo, Rudy, Firkusny, Adsnes, Kuwiec, Tirimo, Schiff, Kvapil, etc.

any recommendations for this really enjoyable and quite striking piano music?

The atmosphere generated in and around "On an Overgrown Path" is nothing short of outstanding and as you say 'striking'.  Sorry I have no recommendation at the moment, I was just pleased to hear someone (you) found "On an Overgrown Path". 

[George]

Aren't classical stations wonderful. Yet again I've been driving along and a piece of unknown music has jumped out at me that I just have to hear again. This time it was "The barn owl has not flown away!" from his "On an Overgrown Path". Intrigued I went to Russian DVD and got a performance from Radoslav Kvapil of the whole work plus other pieces. In short I really like this music and can see how I'd use it.

Amazon has CDs by Austbo, Rudy, Firkusny, Adsnes, Kuwiec, Tirimo, Schiff, Kvapil, etc.

any recommendations for this really enjoyable and quite striking piano music?

The set by Austbo was recently recommended to me by Jens, but I have yet to pick it up.

[The new erato]

Anything by the mature Janacek is striking. Seldom has a composer had such an distinct, personal tone in his music.

[Todd]

Rudolf Firkusny is the first choice in Janacek, the DG set first and the RCA set second.  Accept no substitutes.  If you want to listen further, then Andras Schiff's ECM recording is worth consideration.  Softer toned, it works very well.  (His Decca recording ain't too shabby either.)  Also worth consideration if you can find it is Josef Palenicek on Supraphon.  

As to some of the other names on your list, Kuwiec is colorless and Rudy is cold.  I haven't heard the others.

[George]

Rudolf Firkusny is the first choice in Janacek, the DG set first

I listened to just two samples of this before buying the set over at amazon. Luckily, I found it used for $12. New copies are close to $43.  

This is gorgeous playing, thanks for the heads up.  

[Drasko]

 Also worth consideration if you can find it is Josef Palenicek on Supraphon.  

I was considering that set. How does Palenicek compare with Firkusny (DG) and Schiff (ECM). I'm not very familiar with his playing.

[Todd]

I was considering that set. How does Palenicek compare with Firkusny (DG) and Schiff (ECM). I'm not very familiar with his playing.

He's closer in style, sound, and approach to Firkusny.  He's not as polished and sounds a bit darker, but that can actually be a good thing here.  Palenicek's recording of the sonata is exceptionally good, possibly the equal of Firkusny's studio efforts.  

[Drasko]

That sounds like very good thing indeed. My favorite Sonata is Firkusny live on Orfeo, with very fast and intense second movement, considerably more than on DG and I see Palenicek is even swifter. I'll have to hear that. Good thing is it seems all uk vendors seem to have ongoing Supraphon offers. Thanks.

[rondos]

Rudy is not cold.  He just makes the music clean and clear.  Actually the Rudy disk is one of my most frequently played ones.

[Florestan]

I have and heard only the Schiff version and obviously can't compare it to anyone else. I like it a lot though, both the music and the rendition.

[Mandryka]

This recording of On The Overgrown Path  by Palanicek was recently announced on RMCR -- I think it's stunning.

http://nealshistoricalcorner.blogspot.com/2009/05/josef-palenicek-janacek-on-overgrown.html

I would like to hear the Firksuny. There are two recordings -- RCA and DG. Does anyone know if there's anything betwen them?

By the way -- pick up the fantastic recording of  The Diary of One Who Disappeared while you're downloading the Palanicek Leaves.

And I expect everyone here knows Moravec's Janacek -- very good too IMO.

[George]

This recording of On The Overgrown Path  by Palanicek was recently announced on RMCR -- I think it's stunning.

http://nealshistoricalcorner.blogspot.com/2009/05/josef-palenicek-janacek-on-overgrown.html

Hi Mandryka! 

Thanks, will check that out later!

I would like to hear the Firksuny. There are two recordings -- RCA and DG. Does anyone know if there's anything betwen them?

Todd said earlier in the thread that the DG was first. I assumed that meant it was better, but now I think it might simply  mean that it was recorded first. Can you clarify, Todd?

By the way -- pick up the fantastic recording of  The Diary of One Who Disappeared while you're downloading the Palanicek Leaves.

And I expect everyone here knows Moravec's Janacek -- very good too IMO.

Will do and oh yes! 

[Todd]

Todd said earlier in the thread that the DG was first. I assumed that meant it was better, but now I think it might simply  mean that it was recorded first. Can you clarify, Todd?

Your initial interpretation was correct; the DG recordings are better than the RCA recordings.  (The RCA recordings are, in turn, better than most everything else.)

And I expect everyone here knows Moravec's Janacek -- very good too IMO.

Very good, but not as good as I want it to be.  I find the others I mention a bit better.

[dirkronk]

Coming in late, and I can do little but put in another good word for Firkusny. As usual, I have his Janacek on a vinyl DGG double-album rather than CD, but for me that's all to the good. The original was in analog, of course, and my copy is both pressed on center and offers surfaces as pristine as I dare hope for. I have it on as I type. Lovely indeed, and imbued with a good deal more character, I'd say, than Kvapil, whose Regis CD I also have.

That said, I don't mean to belittle Kvapil. He's well recorded, his disc is cheap (my copy on Regis was, anyway) and he certainly does not suck in Janacek: his advocacy seems genuine and his playing is good, even if his execution seems prosaic in direct comparison to Firkusny. And of course, that's the real problem: I heard Firkusny first (many years earlier, actually) and was spoiled.


I grabbed Kvapil's CD to have some Janacek piano at work. At the same time, I bought some of his Dvorak, Smetana and Suk--and to my ears he seems good to very good in all these. But as always, YMMV.

Oh...and the others on Holden's list? Haven't heard them in this composer. Sorry.

Cheers,

Dirk

[The new erato]

Coming in late, and I can do little but put in another good word for Firkusny. As usual, I have his Janacek on a vinyl DGG double-album rather than CD, but for me that's all to the good.

Currently unavailable, so probably slated for a Brilliant reissue.

[Mandryka]

Well the Firkusny just doesn't do it for me -- sorry Todd, but I guess one of the things that these forums show you is that people have different tastes.

Somehow he seems to fuzz over the dramatic contrasts which make the music so exciting (I'm talking about Path). And the acoustic is too resonant for me.

The performance I have enjoyed most is that amateur transfer of Palenicek's first recording. I get more of a feel of commitment and excitement with Pakenicek.  And more drama -- and despite the surfaces I prefer the sound.

So I have ordered his Hungaraton disc!

Anyway -- I owe one to you all for making me aware of this nice music.

[rubio]

So I have ordered his Hungaraton disc!

Where did you find it?

[Todd]

sorry Todd, but I guess one of the things that these forums show you is that people have different tastes.

Somehow he seems to fuzz over the dramatic contrasts which make the music so exciting (I'm talking about Path).

The former statement is certainly true.  The second is therefore purely subjective.  I don't hear any fuzzing over of anything, and I'm also not sure that the music is necessarily supposed to be "exciting," depending on what one means by exciting.  But everyone likes different approaches.  Someone earlier said that Rudy isn't cold, for instance, whereas I definitely find him cold.  

One thing I'd like clarification on is the notion of "commitment" to the music.  What does that mean, and how can you divine that Palenicek had more of it? 

Of course, Firkusny has two advantages over all other pianists: he studied with Janacek, and he relied on scores marked by Janacek.  That may or may not be a huge advantage, but it lends itself to potentially more accurate performances.

(I believe Palenicek's disc is on Supraphon.)

[Mandryka]

One thing I'd like clarification on is the notion of "commitment" to the music.  What does that mean, and how can you divine that Palenicek had more of it?  

I wish I could clarify, but I can't. I just know that that was what I felt. Maybe it's something to do with an energy which comes from the fact that in Palenicek I hear more contrasts, more drama. And Palenicek seems to hold rests longer -- you find yourself anticipating the progress of the music on the edge of your seat for just a little bit longer. And that makes it sound more intense somehow.


Of course it's all subjective. I am not saying Firkusny is less committed -- only that I sensed more commitment from Palenicek. It's a statement about me, not about the recordings! Autobiography.

But don't forget these performances are new to me. Over time, your responses change.

Who knows what combination of genes and environment make you prefer one, me the other? And who cares? I'm just very happy that you put me on to the recordings, and helped me to start to explore a very fine piece of music.

Where did you find it?

I ordered the sole copy on sale today from amazon in the UK -- from a vendor. But I noticed that it is available in MP3 through e music.