Janáček (Leoš' Lair)

[Mirror Image]

I know John and I share the same high praise for the MTT/LSO Mass & Sinfonietta disc, that's a desert island disc.

YES! A desert island disc indeed.

[Lisztianwagner]

Excellent, Ilaria! Jenufa is a very good opera. My favorite Janáček opera, however, is Káťa Kabanová. This opera, next to Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, may very well be my favorite opera by any composer. That's how fantastic I think this Janáček is! Can't wait to read more of your comments regarding this composer's operas.

Thank you, John! If I listened to Janáček's operas in chronological order (those ones comprised in the Mackerras box set), Káťa Kabanová would be the next one; I've read the plot, it sounds very enchanting.

[Mirror Image]

Thank you, John! If I listened to Janáček's operas in chronological order (those ones comprised in the Mackerras box set), Káťa Kabanová would be the next one; I've read the plot, it sounds very enchanting.

You're welcome, Ilaria. Káťa Kabanová is, in a way, autobiographical because Janáček had fallen in love with this woman and she was the inspiration behind several of his works.

[Luke]

To put it mildly....!

[Brian]

I know John and I share the same high praise for the MTT/LSO Mass & Sinfonietta disc, that's a desert island disc.

Great, now I'm really mad that when I ordered that disc it got lost in the mail and the seller refunded.

[Mirror Image]

Great, now I'm really mad that when I ordered that disc it got lost in the mail and the seller refunded.

Have you tried acquiring another copy, Brian?

[Karl Henning]

Have you tried acquiring another copy, Brian?

+1

Was just about to thank Brian for that nudge to find me a copy of that 'un.

[Mirror Image]

+1

Was just about to thank Brian for that nudge to find me a copy of that 'un.

It's a great recording that's for sure. It's quite the treat to hear MTT in Janáček.

[TheGSMoeller]

This movement belongs in a Terence Malick film, it's lyrical, charming, theatrical and most of all, full of life. Leoš composed a calm subtlety as good as any of them...

Leoš Janáček - Idyll for string orchestra, Mvt. V (Adagio)

https://www.youtube.com/v/3dItG8VMaM0

[Karl Henning]

Viz. my Taras Bulba mini-death-match 

Ančerl is, of course, a faultless, consummately musical interpreter.  I especially love the warm tones of the organ in Smrt Andrijova, and (everywhere) the full-blooded voice of the violas.  The full orchestra at the end of the third movement is, I think, not well served by the sound stage, at the dynamic peak the effect is glare-ish.

For the Dohnányi, I might wish the organ had not been quite so recessed for Smrt Andrijova;  but the orchestra's sound is so exquisite, the recording is so clean . . . overall, I do not repent of my arguably hasty assessment that this might be my preferred account of the piece.

[Karl Henning]

Viz. my Taras Bulba mini-death-match 

Ančerl is, of course, a faultless, consummately musical interpreter.  I especially love the warm tones of the organ in Smrt Andrijova, and (everywhere) the full-blooded voice of the violas.  The full orchestra at the end of the third movement is, I think, not well served by the sound stage, at the dynamic peak the effect is glare-ish.

For the Dohnányi, I might wish the organ had not been quite so recessed for Smrt Andrijova;  but the orchestra's sound is so exquisite, the recording is so clean . . . overall, I do not repent of my arguably hasty assessment that this might be my preferred account of the piece.

Yes, the closing passage in the Dohnányi/Cleveland recording is eye-tearingly delicious.

[TheGSMoeller]

Viz. my Taras Bulba mini-death-match 

Ančerl is, of course, a faultless, consummately musical interpreter.  I especially love the warm tones of the organ in Smrt Andrijova, and (everywhere) the full-blooded voice of the violas.  The full orchestra at the end of the third movement is, I think, not well served by the sound stage, at the dynamic peak the effect is glare-ish.

For the Dohnányi, I might wish the organ had not been quite so recessed for Smrt Andrijova;  but the orchestra's sound is so exquisite, the recording is so clean . . . overall, I do not repent of my arguably hasty assessment that this might be my preferred account of the piece.

Very nice, Karl. Thanks for the write up.
In addition to the Dohnanyi, I own, or have heard, Mackerras, Gardiner, Wit and Pesek. All good, bringing something different to the music, but I really love the way Pesek drags out the ending, a real dramatic punch with what sounds like 20 horns!  And I always listen for that organ, I prefer it with a strong presence.

[North Star]

Viz. my Taras Bulba mini-death-match 

Ančerl is, of course, a faultless, consummately musical interpreter.  I especially love the warm tones of the organ in Smrt Andrijova, and (everywhere) the full-blooded voice of the violas.  The full orchestra at the end of the third movement is, I think, not well served by the sound stage, at the dynamic peak the effect is glare-ish.

For the Dohnányi, I might wish the organ had not been quite so recessed for Smrt Andrijova;  but the orchestra's sound is so exquisite, the recording is so clean . . . overall, I do not repent of my arguably hasty assessment that this might be my preferred account of the piece.

Thanks for the comparison, Karl! Now, if the Dohnányi only wasn't so frightfully expensive.. 

[Sergeant Rock]

For the Dohnányi, I might wish the organ had not been quite so recessed for Smrt Andrijova;  but the orchestra's sound is so exquisite, the recording is so clean . . . overall, I do not repent of my arguably hasty assessment that this might be my preferred account of the piece.

I've never done a comparison (I own Mack, Ancerl, A.Davis and Dohnányi). Don't know which I prefer. This, though, makes me hunger for a fifth version:

I really love the way Pesek drags out the ending, a real dramatic punch with what sounds like 20 horns!

Sarge

[Wanderer]

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I already had the sublime RR issue of Serebrier's Janáček (Sinfonietta, Taras Bulba, Lachian Dances) and recently got the twofer repackaging for the opera preludes and suites. Equally captivating, in exemplary RR sonics.

[Karl Henning]

Arrived today: Janáček conducted by Pešek. Recommended (Taras Bulba) by Monkey Greg.



Sarge

Not sure how I managed not to listen to it before, but the Overture to From the House of the Dead: exquisite!

[North Star]

Not sure how I managed not to listen to it before, but the Overture to From the House of the Dead: exquisite!

The recording or the piece, Karl?

[Mirror Image]

Not sure how I managed not to listen to it before, but the Overture to From the House of the Dead: exquisite!

Yes, it's outstanding as is the opening prelude from Act I from the The Makropulos Case. Have you heard this one, Karl? Dynamite!

[aligreto]

I listened to two versions on vinyl of the Sinfonietta under the direction of Kubelik this evening....





This is a good performance which has the raw, elemental sound of the military band but one which I ultimately found to be underwhelming.






This I found to be a livelier performance with a bit more gusto and this one has a fine finale.



With both of these performances, however, one gets the impression of restraint, of something being held back.

[aligreto]

I followed the above with another vinyl version, this time Rattle/Philharmonia....





This is a performance that brings this work to life for me; contemplative when required and effervescent when called for.