Leoš Janáček - Orchestral Works (Charles Mackerras)

Information

Composer: Leoš Janáček

CD1

• Jealousy (Zárlivost), original prelude to "Jenufa", JW 6/10
• The Cunning Little Vixen, suite from opera (arr. Václav Talich, rev. Mackerras)
• Sárka, opera, JW 1/1: Overture
• Taras Bulba, rhapsody for orchestra after Gogol's Novel)

CD2

• Káta Kabanová, opera, JW 1/8: Overture & Interludes
• Schluck und Jau, incidental music for Gerhart Hauptmann's play, JW 9/11
• Sinfonietta ("Military", "Sokol Festival"), JW 6/18

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Charles Mackerras, conductor

Date: 2004

Label: Supraphon

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Review

Charles Mackerras speaks of this set as his last series of Janácek recordings, which is understandable–but let’s fervently hope that he hangs around to make many more discs for Supraphon (and other labels). Some of this material has appeared previously in the opera sets: the overtures and interludes to Kát’a Kabanová and Sárka. The rest of the items are new and wonderful. Most interesting for Janácek collectors may be this superb Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen that follows the outline of Talich’s arrangement (that is, Act 1 minus the voices) but restores the composer’s original orchestration. It’s wonderful. Equally wonderful is the performance of Schluck und Jau, certainly its finest on disc, and the same holds true of the Jealousy Overture (a bit messy in the earlier Decca recording).

This performance of the Sinfonietta is thrilling: swifter than the somewhat staid Decca recordings and even more exciting than Mackerras’ famous first effort with the Pro Arte Orchestra (now on Testament). He whips up the excitement at such points as the third movement’s central climax with uninhibited abandon, and the Czech Philharmonic responds with explosive enthusiasm. The same qualities characterize the second two movements of Taras Bulba; the first is a touch relaxed, not as violent in the battle scene as some others I could name (Ancerl, for example), but it’s never slack or self-consciously smooth. The recordings–both live and studio efforts from a variety of venues–sound consistently excellent. Mackerras did more for Janácek than any other conductor living or dead, and it’s fitting that he should leave his final thoughts on this music with the Czech Philharmonic and Supraphon. A set not to be missed! [5/4/2004]

— David Hurwitz

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Leoš Janáček (3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was a Czech composer, one of the most important exponents of musical nationalism of the 20th century. He studied at the Prague, Leipzig, and Vienna conservatories. His earlier works was influenced by contemporaries such as Dvořák, but later he began to incorporate his studies of national folk music and language to create a highly original synthesis. Janáček's later works, which are his most celebrated, include operas Káťa Kabanová and The Cunning Little Vixen, the Sinfonietta, the Glagolitic Mass, the rhapsody Taras Bulba, two string quartets, and other chamber works.

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Charles Mackerras (17 November 1925 – 14 July 2010) was an Australian conductor. An expert in a wide repertory of opera and orchestral music, Mackerras was especially well known for his interpretations of music by Leoš Janáček and other Czech composers. He was also one of the first conductors to apply the principles of the historical performance movement to operatic performances by modern orchestras. Mackerras was chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony from 1982 to 1985 and music director of the Welsh National Opera from 1987 to 1992. His vast catalog include well over 275 recordings.

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