Janacek: Taras Bulba, rhapsody; Cunning Little Vixen

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Janácek (1854-1928) was a Czech composer heavily influenced by the end-of-the-century Russian composers who also drew from the same southern Russia folk sources. The works on this disc are four of Janácek's most famous tone poems, the greatest of which is Taras Bulba based on the Gogol story. (Janácek identified with Taras Bulba, a Pole fighting the Russians--Janácek was a Czech fighting with the Russians.) The work is languid in character, played here with just the right nationalistic flourishes. Of the many versions of this in print, this is probably the one to get. --Paul Cook

Tracks:

Sinfonietta: Fanfares
Sinfonietta: The Castle
Sinfonietta: The Queen's Monastary
Sinfonietta: The Street
Sinfonietta: The Town
Lachian Dances: Starodavny
Lachian Dances: Pozehnany
Lachian Dances: Dymak
Lachian Dances: Starodavny II
Lachian Dances: Celadensky
Lachian Dances: Pilky
Taras Bulba: The Death Of Andrei
Taras Bulba: The Death Of Ostap
Taras Bulba: Prophecy And Death Of Taras Bulba

Tracks:

The Cunning Little Vixen - Ste: Part One
The Cunning Little Vixen - Ste: Part Two
Jealousy (Original Prld To Jenufa)
From The House Of The Dead: Prld
The Makropulos Case: Act I
The Makropulos Case: Act II
The Makropulos Case: Act III

Customer Reviews:

Lives up to the rave review by Mr. Hollingsworth.......2003-01-24

I've become a recent devotee of Janacek's music, in particular with regards to his most folk-inspired works (Lachian Dances and Rakos Rakoczy). I'm always on the lookout for worthy recordings of the Lachian Dances and the previous review seemed positive. I was not disappointed. Compared to the Decca Double Decker with Mackerras and Huybrechts, Srebenier extracts a bit more verve and fun from his players. The Decca recording is indeed impressive in its own right (I'd give it 4-and-a-half stars), but the Czech State Philharmonic and Srebenier seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves playing on "home turf" as it were. In other words, although the Decca recording sounds more polished from a technical standpoint, the playing sounds a little stately or "officious" (for lack of a better word) compared to the Reference recording. If you already have the Decca recording, by all means, go for this one as well.

Serebrier at his finest: The best Janacek discs!.......2002-07-19

For decades, Mackerras' recording of Janacek's Taras Bulba and Sinfonietta has been deemed the best in the catalogue, against which all others have been measured. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO), which knows as much of Janacek as they do of Bruckner, played the works with authority and with real feeling. The strings are of real bloom and weight, the woodwinds crispy, the brass blazen and glorious, and the percussion mesmerizing. Sir Charles Mackerras, among the best of Janacek's interpreters (along with Bretislav Bakala, Frantisek Jilek, & Vaclav Neumann earlier), gives the renditions of vividness and imagination and the phrasings are as genuine and ideal as expected.

But,...here comes this recording! Let me say upfront that Serebrier measures up to Mackerras in every way. And the Czech State Philharmonic (of Brno) is as authoritative as the VPO, with every bar & every detail so well caught and conveyed even at higher levels than its Viennese rival. Furthermore, the Czech State Philharmonic brings out more authenticity of these works, thanks in some part to the recording. For example, listen to the second movement of Sinfonietta "The Castle." Notice how a sense of mystery, after, say 1'35", becomes compellingly restraint and haunting (the strings and woodwinds must be credited for this, as well as Serebrier, who conveys these dimensions more successfully than even Belohlavek). How about the third movement "The Queen's Monastary", which is played with real beauty and eloquence, with a certain feeling of nostalgia and sadness. Exemplary, even in regards to the other works like Taras Bulba and the Lachian Dances. I would hesitate to replace my Decca recording of the Lachian Dances well served by Francois Huybrechts and the London Philharmonic, especially since it's coupled with Janacek's Vec Makropulos-which London Decca foolishly deleted-along with other Janacek's operas extremely well executed by Mackerras, the VPO, and its wonderful casts (remember Elisabeth Soderstrom?). Instead, Serebrier's edition is well worth having: it has plenty of vitality and enjoyment. And the way Serebrier brings out the tragic menance and drama of Taras Bulba is idiomatic and purely exciting. The closing of Taras Bulba is done triumphantly and with appropriate grandioseness, although the organ should have more of an imposing presence.

Reference Recordings (RR), which compiled the original 1995-1996 recordings of these works, includes the second disc (under the two for the price of one scheme). This disc contains selections from Janacek's popular operas: Suite from "The Cunning Little Vixen", preludes to "Jenufa" (entitled "Jealously") and "From the House of the Dead", and Serebrier's Symphonic Synthesis of "Vec Makropulos." This second disc is as every bit enjoyable as the first disc containing Sinfonietta, Taras Bulba, and the Lachian Dances. The "Cunning Little Vixen" Suite (in the Talich/Smetacek edition) is done with upmost vividness and flair. But the Vec Makropulos synthesis is every bit as paradigmatic. Serebrier, a very successful composer in his own right, confessed the challenge he faced in coming up with the synthesis, which no one has done before. Well, it pays off. The synthesis upholds the essence of Janacek's very demanding opera, while not minimizing its emotional and musical impact. Moreover, the Czech State Philharmonic comes up huge again (the prelude comes off well and with fire under their musicianship).

So, an highly enjoyable two-disc set that in many ways outshine Mackerras' Decca recording. As alluded to earlier, the quality of the recording is part of this album's success. The sound is more "Czech" in feeling and extremely well focused. You might be tempted to buy Belohlavek's Chandos recording of especially the Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba. Chandos likewise offer, for the price of one, a two-disc (compiled) set of these works, plus Fiddler's Child as well as Idyll and Suite (both for Strings idiomatically played by Gregory Rose and the Jupiter Orchestra), but minus the "House of the Dead" prelude and "Vec Makropulos." The Chandos album is well worth having, though Belohlavek's approach to Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba is not as ideal as Serebrier or Mackerras (the brass of the Czech Philharmonic is surprisingly not as glorious and blazen as the Czech State Philharmonic or the VPO and their strings lack tonal radiance and body comparatively speaking). Otherwise, Belohlavek is better on the other works, like Fiddler's Child and the "Cunning Little Vixen" Suite.

But, Serebrier's recordings of Janacek's masterpieces can now be deemed as the benchmark recordings against which all others will be measured! Will Serebrier record Janacek's operas as a just compensation for the deleted Decca/Mackerras recordings (still held as the best in the catalogue)? Oh boy I dare hope so!

Leos Janácek: Cunning Little Vixen (Suite) / Sinfonietta / Schluck & Jau / Jealousy (Original Prelude) / Kát'a Kabanová (Overture & Interludes) / Taras Bulba / Sárka (Overture) - Sir Charles Mackerras / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
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SUMMATION OF A LIFETIME'S DEDICATION TO JANACEK

Sir Charles in Prague

Leos Janácek: Cunning Little Vixen (Suite) / Sinfonietta / Schluck & Jau / Jealousy (Original Prelude) / Kát'a Kabanová (Overture & Interludes) / Taras Bulba / Sárka (Overture) - Sir Charles Mackerras / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Leos Janácek (Composer) , Sir Charles Mackerras (Conductor) , and Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Supraphon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

SUMMATION OF A LIFETIME'S DEDICATION TO JANACEK.......2006-04-12

Maybe these two discs are to be Sir Charles' farewell to recording Janacek. I wouldn't bet the house on it, though, because he still shows amazing energy levels at 80 years of age and is to conduct Makropoulos at the ENO next month. Nevertheless, you could certainly argue that these performances provide us with a summation of a lifetime's love and scholarly work on these scores from Janacek's greatest proselytiser.

Many of these works have been recorded by Sir Charles before, notably on his ground-breaking Pye recording from the 50's. There was a certain rawness about that recording (partly because of the musicians' unfamiliarity with the music and their sense of discovery, partly because of the dry acoustic) that suited this music particularly well - better, I think, than the plushness and greater security of the later Vienna Philharmonic performances.

The Sarka and Katya excerpts here come from Mackerras' complete Supraphon recordings of the operas. The Katya interludes really exist only as a result of Sir Charles' research and this is wonderful music that we (and the opera) would now be much poorer without.

Most of the other performances are taken from live performances in Prague. They are consistently fine and carry a strong feeling of authenticity when played, as here, by a Czech orchestra. The Jealousy Overture is a great opener, much better in a concert context than in Jenufa for which it was originally written. The Vixen Suite is just gorgeous. There are none of the humans in this Suite, not even the Forester's pantheistic final aria. It is all about the animals and includes the inspiring ballet in which the Vixen dreams of her freedom. Sir Charles and his Czech players give a truly uplifting performance.

Perhaps the most intriguing piece here is the rarity, the orchestral music Janacek wrote for the play, Schluck und Jau. This is the last orchestral music that the composer ever wrote. There are echoes in it of the imperial fanfares from the Makropoulos Affair and of passages from the House of the Dead but it also shows him still questing for new sonorities, fully brought out in this definitive performance.

The two big pieces on these discs - Taras Bulba and the Sinfonietta - are both great live performances. In the former, Sir Charles really gives the graphic and illustrative instrumentation full reign - the integrated organ sounds, the strangulated clarinet, the ideally crisp timps, the solo horn way up high in its register and the full rich brass ensemble of Taras' final apotheosis. The Sinfonietta, too, is as near definitive as you'll get. The full compliment of brass for the opening and closing fanfares are there and the tiered effects the composer demands are ideally realised. I suspect a bit of textual tidying up here and there from Sir Charles the scholar. Certainly the results are as clear and crisp as you could ask, whether in chattering woodwind, crystal bright trumpet playing or perfectly intonated string playing whether at speed or at rest.

All in all, these discs represent a wonderful summary of a lifetime's dedication the Janacek. Worth every penny.

Sir Charles in Prague.......2005-02-16

Charles Mackerras is probably the greatest exponent of Janácek's music of all time. This fine Supraphon set collects his excellent Prague recordings from the recent years. It appears to be his testimony to Janácek's fans. The set includes not only the famous workds but also some of the rarely performed pieces (it is not a complete set, however).

Taras Bulba and the Sinfonietta are recorded live, which adds to the dramatic thrill of these masterworks. Czech Philharmonic plays them marvellously, and the interpretations are second to none.

Some of the material have already appeared in opera boxes: the ouvertures and other music from Kát'a kabanová and Sárka. But the Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen is a fresh recording, in Janácek's original orchestration. The performance is nothing but superb.

Schluck & Jau was Janácek's last orchestral score. It is a fascinating piece, wonderfully scored, and performed with precision and enthusiasm. The performance of the Jealousy Overture - the original Jenufa ouverture - is also very fine.

Moreover, recording quality is state of the art.

Warmly recommended!

Janacek: Sinfonietta Op60; Taras Bulba, rhapsody

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Janacek: Sinfonietta Op60; Taras Bulba, rhapsody

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000IYN0
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Idyll For String Orchestra: I Andante
Idyll For String Orchestra: II Allegro - Moderato - Tempo I
Idyll For String Orchestra: III Moderato - Con moto - Tempo I
Idyll For String Orchestra: IV Allegro
Idyll For String Orchestra: V Adagio - Presto - Tempo I
Idyll For String Orchestra: VI Scherzo & Trio
Idyll For String Orchestra: VII Moderato
Suite For Strings: I Moderato
Suite For Strings: II Adagio
Suite For Strings: III Andante con moto -
Suite For Strings: IV Presto - Andante - Presto
Suite For Strings: V Adagio
Suite For Strings: VI Andante
Sinfonietta: I Allegretto
II Andante
III Moderato
IV Allegretto
V Andante con moto

Tracks:

Overture: Jealousy
The Fiddler's Child
Suite: The Cunning Little Vixen: I Andante
Suite: The Cunning Little Vixen: II Andante
Taras Bulba: I Death Of Andrei
Taras Bulba: II Death Of Ostap
Taras Bulba: III Prophecy And Death Of Taras Bulba

Janacek: Taras Bulba, rhapsody; Cunning Little Vixen

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More Wonders from Leos Janacek and Jirí Belohlávek

Janacek: Taras Bulba, rhapsody; Cunning Little Vixen

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000APX
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

Taras Bulba: Rhap for Orch: I. Death of Andrei: Moderato quasi recitativo
Taras Bulba: Rhap for Orch: II. Death of Ostap: Moderato
Taras Bulba: Rhap for Orch: III. Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba: Con moto
The Fiddler's Child: Ballad for Orch: Con moto - Vivo - Larghetto - Allegro - Maestoso
Ov: Jealousy: Allegro
Ste: The Cunning Little Vixen: I. Andante
Ste: The Cunning Little Vixen: II. Andante

Amazon.com

Janácek (1854-1928) was a Czech composer heavily influenced by the end-of-the-century Russian composers who also drew from the same southern Russia folk sources. The works on this disc are four of Janácek's most famous tone poems, the greatest of which is Taras Bulba based on the Gogol story. (Janácek identified with Taras Bulba, a Pole fighting the Russians--Janácek was a Czech fighting with the Russians.) The work is languid in character, played here with just the right nationalistic flourishes. Of the many versions of this in print, this is probably the one to get. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

More Wonders from Leos Janacek and Jirí Belohlávek .......2006-12-09

Leos Janacek, once known only as a passingly interesting composer of the bohemian mode, is finally coming into his own with the building emphasis on his fine operas and for his challenging orchestral works. Conductor Jirí Belohlávek has a special affinity for his work and on this recording he conducts his Orchestr Ceská Filharmonie in suites and rhapsodies less familiar to our ears but works that are infectiously fascinating.

Though the entire recording is of high caliber it is the Rhapsody for orchestra based on three movements influenced by the Gogol story 'Taras Bulba' depicting the 1628 war between the Cossacks and Polish and the subsequent three deaths that each movement designates. The work calls for large orchestra augmented by organ, large percussions section and added brass and winds. It is Janacek at his most exciting. In the acoustic of Disney Hall with its magnificent, huge organ Jirí Belohlávek guest conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a spectacular sonic extravaganza. After that experience it is satisfying to find this fine recording and re-visit the maestro's thoughts and interpretation of this very exciting work. Well worth adding to the library of music lovers of all ilk. Grady Harp, December 06

Janacek: Taras Bulba; The Cunning Little Vixen (Suite) / Novak: Moravian-Slovak Suite [1954 historic mono recording]

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A beautiful CD

Janacek: Taras Bulba; The Cunning Little Vixen (Suite) / Novak: Moravian-Slovak Suite [1954 historic mono recording]
Leos Janacek , Vitezslav Novak , Vaclav Talich , and Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Supraphon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000JMZR
Release Date: 1994-09-22

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful CD.......2000-12-08

This is just a scrumptious CD. After not listening to it for a while, it came up in my changer, and I was wondering where it came from -- pulled it out and remembered. Since then it's been played consistently.

The melodies throughout all three pieces are just incredible, with an orchestration that is fairly light for a large, modern work. The Czech Phil sounds great in this recording.

Well worth getting!

Track Listings: