BaL 1.07.17 - Janáček: Sinfonietta

**BBMmk2** · 23-06-17, 10:27

Wow! Quite a list there! now let see? I have Ed Gardner's, Mackerras's Supraphone, Simon Rattles CBSO, as well. I think that's it off the top of my head. I do find this very uplifting work!

**mikealdren** · 23-06-17, 12:52

My favourite has been the Bavarian RSO/Kubelik since the LP came out and it's coupled to a fantastic Taras Bulba (RR choice). I prefer it to the Mackerras VPO, Abbado Berlin, Neumann Czech Phil and Rattle Philharmonia recordings that I have. However it's definitely a piece that benefits from fine recording so there may be something out there and I'll be listening.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 23-06-17, 12:58

One of my favourite works (by one of my favourite composers). But ... Richard Morrison ...

I think I'll just buy every version available that I don't yet have - it'll cost me less.

**Pulcinella** · 23-06-17, 13:03

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

0930
Building a Library: Richard Morrison listens to some of the available versions of Leoš Janáček's Sinfonietta and makes a recommendation.

This use of the present tense reads like an extract from Wolf Hall!
I wonder if he'll tell us the criteria he used to choose his 'some'?
CPO/Ancerl, VPO/Mackerras, and PO/Rattle here, as well as the BBC MM one (BBCPO/Mackerras).
A great favourite since I was first introduced to it by a fellow student in my first year at Uni; he had heard a Proms performance and been bowled over, so on his recommendation I bought a recording: the Ancerl, probably still my go-to version, as ts would say!

**BBMmk2** · 23-06-17, 13:13

Originally posted by Pulcinella View Post

This use of the present tense reads like an extract from Wolf Hall!
I wonder if he'll tell us the criteria he used to choose his 'some'?
CPO/Ancerl, VPO/Mackerras, and PO/Rattle here, as well as the BBC MM one.

Oh yes! Not forgetting the BBC MM!

**makropulos** · 23-06-17, 14:04

Terrific list, EA - thank you. There are several that are still obtainable, if not exactly "available", including Klemperer/Cologne Radio SO (in the Great Conductors of the 20th Century set), the Mackerras BBC PO already mentioned (BBC MM) and Mackerras Sydney SO (on the orchestra's own label). Bakala recorded it for Supraphon with the Czech Phil and I think you've left that off (still available https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janacek-Sin...bakala+janacek - and as a download) - it's different from the Brno performance on Panton.

I seem to have something like 40 recordings of this piece (which I adore), but when it comes to choosing a performance I always end up going to Ancerl, Kubelik or Mackerras - and Klemperer too, whose conducting of the work Janacek found magnificent. Choosing just one from those is not easy - the finest are all extremely good - but I'd probably go for Mackerras/Czech Phil on Supraphon in terms of performance/sound etc.

However, this is arguably a premature BAL: there is a brand new edition by Jiri Zahrádka that is just starting to be performed. Belohlavek conducted its first performance a few weeks before he died, and Jakub Hrusa has done it since. That - I know - has some fascinating points in it, and it's a shame that it won't be considered in this survey - no doubt there will be a recording of it soon. The score of this new edition will be published by Universal Edition in the next few months.

**Bryn** · 23-06-17, 14:17

Originally posted by makropulos View Post

Terrific list, EA - thank you. There are several that are still obtainable, if not exactly "available", including Klemperer/Cologne Radio SO (in the Great Conductors of the 20th Century set), the Mackerras BBC PO already mentioned (BBC MM) and Mackerras Sydney SO (on the orchestra's own label). Bakala recorded it for Supraphon with the Czech Phil and I think you've left that off (still available https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janacek-Sin...bakala+janacek - and as a download) - it's different from the Brno performance on Panton.

I seem to have something like 40 recordings of this piece (which I adore), but when it comes to choosing a performance I always end up going to Ancerl, Kubelik or Mackerras - and Klemperer too, whose conducting of the work Janacek found magnificent. Choosing just one from those is not easy - the finest are all extremely good - but I'd probably go for Mackerras/Czech Phil on Supraphon in terms of performance/sound etc.

However, this is arguably a premature BAL: there is a brand new edition by Jiri Zahrádka that is just starting to be performed. Belohlavek conducted its first performance a few weeks before he died, and Jakub Hrusa has done it since. That - I know - has some fascinating points in it, and it's a shame that it won't be considered in this survey - no doubt there will be a recording of it soon. The score of this new edition will be published by Universal Edition in the next few months.

So more than just the restoration of the viola d'amore part, eh?

**makropulos** · 23-06-17, 14:24

Originally posted by Bryn View Post

So more than just the restoration of the viola d'amore part, eh?

Bryn - I only glanced at the proofs quickly in Jiri Zahradka's apartment when I was last in Brno - so I can't give you a proper answer - but yes, definitely more than just the Va d'am (which I think Mackerras tried occasionally).

**Pulcinella** · 23-06-17, 14:50

Originally posted by makropulos View Post

However, this is arguably a premature BAL: there is a brand new edition by Jiri Zahrádka that is just starting to be performed. Belohlavek conducted its first performance a few weeks before he died, and Jakub Hrusa has done it since. That - I know - has some fascinating points in it, and it's a shame that it won't be considered in this survey - no doubt there will be a recording of it soon. The score of this new edition will be published by Universal Edition in the next few months.

I very nearly added in my original posting that at least there wouldn't be issues of performing edition, as there are with the Glagolitic Mass. Perhaps I sensed through the æther that you were about to tell us otherwise, and that restrained my hand from my iPad keyboard!

**makropulos** · 23-06-17, 15:29

Originally posted by Pulcinella View Post

I very nearly added in my original posting that at least there wouldn't be issues of performing edition, as there are with the Glagolitic Mass. Perhaps I sensed through the æther that you were about to tell us otherwise, and that restrained my hand from my iPad keyboard!

I think you must have psychic powers, Pulcinella :) It's nothing as drastic as the Glagolitic Mass, but even so it's an important new edition with (I believe) some very interesting new discoveries, even if most of them are small.

**Petrushka** · 23-06-17, 18:41

I have VPO/Mackerras, Philharmonia/Rattle, BRSO/Kubelik, LSO/Abbado, BBCSO/Kempe and the Mackerras BBC MM CD referred to above. It's long been a big favourite of mine since I bought the Kubelik LP in around 1975.

My first choice of those I know is definitely VPO/Mackerras in one of Decca's first digital issues. Sir Charles really understands where the big climax is here and when it comes in the finale it is overwhelming, a goose bump moment if there ever was one. A pity Rattle never got round to recording it with the BPO as a live Barbican performance I heard from them in 2007 was excellent.

Mackerras in his recording with the VPO made a couple of amendments: the cymbal clash before all the trumpets enter in the last movement comes in a beat earlier than normal and all of the trumpets enter in the second movement. Both of these are fine and in all honesty I thought that this was the extent of any textual issues. Finally, the VPO/Mackerras disc really does sound like 12 trumpets blasting out, an altogether thrilling sound.

I don't have a recording with the Czech PO so for that special brass sound I'd be interested in acquiring one from them, probably Neumann.

**Tony Halstead** · 23-06-17, 19:56

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

I have VPO/Mackerras, Philharmonia/Rattle, BRSO/Kubelik, LSO/Abbado, BBCSO/Kempe and the Mackerras BBC MM CD referred to above. It's long been a big favourite of mine since I bought the Kubelik LP in around 1975.

My first choice of those I know is definitely VPO/Mackerras in one of Decca's first digital issues. Sir Charles really understands where the big climax is here and when it comes in the finale it is overwhelming, a goose bump moment if there ever was one. A pity Rattle never got round to recording it with the BPO as a live Barbican performance I heard from them in 2007 was excellent.

Mackerras in his recording with the VPO made a couple of amendments: the cymbal clash before all the trumpets enter in the last movement comes in a beat earlier than normal and all of the trumpets enter in the second movement. Both of these are fine and in all honesty I thought that this was the extent of any textual issues. Finally, the VPO/Mackerras disc really does sound like 12 trumpets blasting out, an altogether thrilling sound.

I don't have a recording with the Czech PO so for that special brass sound I'd be interested in acquiring one from them, probably Neumann.

Don't ignore the old Ancerl recording... the 'legato' that the massed trumpets achieve is truly breathtaking!

**makropulos** · 23-06-17, 20:11

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

I have VPO/Mackerras, Philharmonia/Rattle, BRSO/Kubelik, LSO/Abbado, BBCSO/Kempe and the Mackerras BBC MM CD referred to above. It's long been a big favourite of mine since I bought the Kubelik LP in around 1975.

My first choice of those I know is definitely VPO/Mackerras in one of Decca's first digital issues. Sir Charles really understands where the big climax is here and when it comes in the finale it is overwhelming, a goose bump moment if there ever was one. A pity Rattle never got round to recording it with the BPO as a live Barbican performance I heard from them in 2007 was excellent.

Mackerras in his recording with the VPO made a couple of amendments: the cymbal clash before all the trumpets enter in the last movement comes in a beat earlier than normal and all of the trumpets enter in the second movement. Both of these are fine and in all honesty I thought that this was the extent of any textual issues. Finally, the VPO/Mackerras disc really does sound like 12 trumpets blasting out, an altogether thrilling sound.

I don't have a recording with the Czech PO so for that special brass sound I'd be interested in acquiring one from them, probably Neumann.

I really would urge you to try Sir Charles's Czech Phil recording to go with his electrifying Vienna disc (which I agree is an absolute thriller). And do get Ancerl too. Neumann's Czech PO Sinfonietta is better than many, but I don't think it's as good as Mackerras or Ancerl with the same orchestra.

**Alison** · 23-06-17, 20:39

Any Tennstedt enthusiasts will surely have his live LPO account on BBC Legends. Perhaps not as idiomatic as some, a sensational finale carries the day.

It's in the form book that RM will very smugly and confidently say some daft things.

BaL 1.07.17 - Janáček: Sinfonietta

BaL 1.07.17 - Janáček: Sinfonietta

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