Notes and Editorial Reviews
The five Janácek operas performed by Charles Mackerras with the Vienna Philharmonic and featuring “mainstream” singers such as Elizabeth Söderström and Lucia Popp stand as the most important recordings made in the last decades of the 20th century. They introduced these magnificent works to Western audiences in well-nigh perfect interpretations, and eased them into the international repertoire of opera houses the world over. They also cemented Mackerras’ reputation as one of the greatest conductors of our time, a musician of unflaggingly superior intelligence, passion, taste, and range. Having all of these works in a single inexpensive box, even without librettos, is a great deal.
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The music, in any case, is so fascinating and spontaneously expressive that you can readily listen without texts; synopses are available online, and librettos are easy to find if you feel so inclined.
The box also includes Mackerras’ VPO recordings of the Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba, a bit slower and heavier than his previous and later efforts as befits the playing style of this particular orchestra, but no less impressive. You also get Vaclav Talich’s arrangement of the Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen (essentially Act 1 rescored and minus the vocal parts), as well as “Jealousy”, the original Overture to Jenufa, complete with a rather shocking trumpet flub at the very end. Never mind, these already legendary recordings deserve their reference status, and a place in any serious opera or 20th century music collection.
-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
The Cunning Little Vixen by Leos Janácek
Performer:
Lucia Popp (Soprano),
Dalibor Jedlicka (Bass),
Eva Randová (Mezzo Soprano),
Václav Zitek (Baritone),
Benno Blachut (Tenor),
Richard Novák (Tenor),
Eva Zigmundová (Mezzo Soprano),
Vladimir Krejcik (Tenor),
Ivana Mixová (Mezzo Soprano),
Libuse Márová (Alto),
Gertrude Jahn (Mezzo Soprano),
Eva Hribiková (Soprano),
Zuzana Hudecová (Soprano),
Peter Saray (Boy Soprano),
Miriam Ondráskova (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Chorus,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Bratislava Children's Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1921-1923; Brno, Czech Republic
2.
From the House of the Dead by Leos Janácek
Performer:
Jirí Zahradnícek (Tenor),
Ivo Zidek (Tenor),
Václav Zitek (Baritone),
Dalibor Jedlicka (Bass),
Antonín Svorc (Baritone),
Jaroslava Janska (Soprano),
Eva Zikmundová (Soprano),
Benno Blachut (Tenor),
Vladimir Krejcik (Tenor),
Zdenek Svehla (Tenor),
Richard Novák (Bass),
Zdenek Sousek (Tenor),
Jaroslav Sousek (Baritone)
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Chorus,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Written: 1930
Date of Recording: 03/1980
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna
Length: 85 Minutes 35 Secs.
Language: Czech
3.
Jenufa by Leos Janácek
Performer:
Elisabeth Söderström (Soprano),
Wieslaw Ochman (Tenor),
Eva Randová (Mezzo Soprano),
Peter Dvorsky (Tenor),
Lucia Popp (Soprano),
Marie Mrázová (Alto),
Václav Zitek (Baritone),
Dalibor Jedlicka (Bass),
Ivana Mixová (Mezzo Soprano),
Vera Soukupová (Alto),
Jindra Pokorna (Mezzo Soprano),
Jana Jonásová (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Chorus,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: Brno, Czech Republic
Date of Recording: 04/1982
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna
Length: 121 Minutes 16 Secs.
Language: Czech
Notes: Composition written: Brno, Czech Republic (1894 - 1903).
4.
Kát'a Kabanová by Leos Janácek
Performer:
Elisabeth Söderström (Soprano),
Hedwig Drechsler (Voice),
Adolf Tomaschek (Baritone),
Gertrude Jahn (Alto),
Jitka Pavlová (Alto),
Vladimir Krejcik (Tenor),
Zdenek Svehla (Tenor),
Libuse Márová (Mezzo Soprano),
Jaroslav Soucek (Baritone),
Dalibor Jedlicka (Bass),
Nadezda Kniplova (Mezzo Soprano),
Peter Dvorsky (Tenor)
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Chorus,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919-1921; Brno, Czech Republic
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna
Length: 100 Minutes 54 Secs.
Language: Czech
5.
The Makropulos affair by Leos Janácek
Performer:
Elisabeth Söderström (Soprano),
Peter Dvorsky (Tenor),
Vladimir Krejcik (Tenor),
Anna Czaková (Mezzo Soprano),
Václav Zitek (Baritone),
Zdenek Svehla (Tenor),
Dalibor Jedlicka (Bass),
Jiri Joran (Bass),
Ivana Mixová (Alto),
Benno Blachut (Tenor),
Blanka Vítková (Alto)
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Chorus,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1923-1925; Brno, Czech Republic
Date of Recording: 09/1978
Venue: Wien Film Studios
Length: 95 Minutes 30 Secs.
Language: Czech
6.
Sinfonietta by Leos Janácek
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1926; Brno, Czech Republic
7.
Taras Bulba by Leos Janácek
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1915-1918; Brno, Czech Republic
8.
Jealousy by Leos Janácek
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1894; Brno, Czech Republic
Date of Recording: 04/1982
Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna
Length: 5 Minutes 37 Secs.
9.
The Cunning Little Vixen: Suite by Leos Janácek
Conductor:
Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1921-1923; Brno, Czech Republic
Notes: Arranger: Vaclav Talich.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Vienna Phil and MacKerras fantastic . June 4, 2012
By R. Corrado (Va. Beach, VA) See All My Reviews
"Lack of libretti a definite drawback.Czech text needs help of a translation.Luckily there's a synopsis of each opera, which helps .Janacek;s music totally innovative, and the orchestations are nothing short of total genius. Singers are all in top shape,especially Soederstrom,Ochman and Dvorsky. I am very happy with this set.R. Corrado"
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