BaL 1.07.17 - Janáček: Sinfonietta

[Petrushka]

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.

Thanks (and to Tony, too) will investigate both of these.

[makropulos]

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.

Great call, Alison. It's a performance I like a lot, and any non-idiomatic issues are comfortably eclipsed by formidable conviction and blazing joy at the end.

That's certainly not the case with a lot of the "international" performances. For instance, Abbado's London recording has always disappointed me, and his Berlin remake has some actual mistakes (chaotic harp playing at one point) - and I say that as someone who usually admires Abbado's work. Ozawa is a terrible disappointment (less of a surprise to me), and Rattle's EMI recording ought to be terrific but somehow manages not to be. Plenty of others in that category, though for sheer grotesquery, Horenstein's half-speed (literally) fanfares take some beating. He's interesting as someone who knew Janacek - and who usually gave rather good performances of his music, but that one is a major dud.

It'll certainly be intriguing to see who RM ends up choosing. At least there are half a dozen really tremendous performances around so with any luck he'll go for one of those. But Tennstedt deserves a more-than-honorable mention.

[HighlandDougie]

As a big fan of Jos van Immerseel/Anima Eterna, I enjoy his recording as an adjunct to the usual suspects. While it might not have the visceral punch of the Czech recordings, the quality of the playing and the sound of the orchestra bring out elements in the music which I think are sometimes missed in, well, "brassier" readings. i wouldn't want to be without it:

https://www.amazon.fr/Janacek-Sinfonietta-Dvorak-Symphonie-Nouveau/dp/B011JKXYCA/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1498308429&sr=1-7&keywords=janacek+sinfonietta

[MickyD]

As a big fan of Jos van Immerseel/Anima Eterna, I enjoy his recording as an adjunct to the usual suspects. While it might not have the visceral punch of the Czech recordings, the quality of the playing and the sound of the orchestra bring out elements in the music which I think are sometimes missed in, well, "brassier" readings. i wouldn't want to be without it:

https://www.amazon.fr/Janacek-Sinfon...ek+sinfonietta

Me too - and it has the very generous coupling of Dvorak's 9th Symphony, a first on period instruments.

[Bryn]

Me too - and it has the very generous coupling of Dvorak's 9th Symphony, a first on period instruments.

Plus Vltava as a bonus if you get the QOBUZ download.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Me too - and it has the very generous coupling of Dvorak's 9th Symphony, a first on period instruments.

Wasn't it pipped to that accolade by Krivine and La Chambre Philharmonique?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dvorak-Symphony-No-Minor-World/dp/B00166QJXO

[Richard Barrett]

Plus Vltava as a bonus if you get the QOBUZ download.

Call that a bonus?

[Bryn]

Call that a bonus?

That's what they call it:

[MickyD]

Oh, I didn't know that they had done that, too. I have the earlier HIP version from Norrington.

[MickyD]

Wasn't it pipped to that accolade by Krivine and La Chambre Philharmonique?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dvorak-Symp.../dp/B00166QJXO

I stand corrected...I had no idea that recording existed, either!

[pastoralguy]

Bump!

[ardcarp]

If anyone needs a potted biog of Janacek before tomorrow morning, there's this:

http://www.wqxr.org/story/142556-life-death-and-leos-janacek/

It deals with the late arrival of recognition, his passion for Kamila and his cause of death.

[pastoralguy]

Bump!

And again!

[Bryn]

Could be a bit of a bumpy ride, if the early stages are anything to go by.

[visualnickmos]

Could be a bit of a bumpy ride, if the early stages are anything to go by.

Hope my versions don't fall off the cart!

Slovak Radio SO - Ondrej Lenard (a conductor always worth searching out)

VPO - Mackerras

Bavarian Rundfunk - Kubelik