BaL 1.07.17 - Janáček: Sinfonietta

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... ferney - did you listen to this BAL? - I know you're not a pertickler fan of the Times's music correspondent - but - I found it a helpful and informative run-through. I learnt from it. I shall probably get the Ancerl to add to my Mackerrae...

No - my postjudice against the Alison Graham of the Music world meant that I had a Saturday morning off from BaL, and listened to Monteverdi's Madrigal Book 7 instead. I knew I could rely on the Posts here to fill me in on the "highlights". I already have the laureate recording - others mentioned here will almost certainly be added to the collection.

(I much enjoyed the discussion of the Scriabin Piano Sonatas later in the programme, though.)

[Bryn]

Just to be different, and because I couldn't remember what it's like, I have just started listening to a Cambreling recording, though not that listed in the OP. This one has him conducting the Monnaie Orchestra, a live recording fro 1985, issued on the Ricercar label as part of a double album of Janacek, Bartok, Schönberg and Berg.



I seems decent enough, but not up there with Ancerl, Mackerras and Kubelik. Not quite enough thrust or urgency. Disc 1 also has the Sedlacek/Zitek orchestration of Diary of One who Disappeared.

[Petrushka]

I luckily bought the Ancerl recording last week following the recommendation from Tony of this parish It's a terrific performance and a recording that belies its 56 years. Wonderful massed trumpets though I could have done with more emphatic timpani. Nevertheless a worthy winner.

[richardfinegold]

This is a work that demands to be heard in concert. Mrs. PG and I heard it in the Usher Hall a few years ago played by the Czech Philharmonic under Belohlavek some years ago and it nearly took the roof off! Strange that, afaik, he didn't record it.

My wife and I took one of her friends to a CSO concert with the Sinfonietta as the roof blowing finale a couple of years ago. At age 60 she became interested in Classical Music overnight

[gurnemanz]

Ancerl and Big Mac have always done it for me

Likewise.
LP Ancerl was an early acquisition and often played over the decades.
CD Included on both Decca Janáček boxes: Opera and Chamber Music

[jayne lee wilson]

Surprised there has been no mention of Bakala. His Prague (not Brno as stated in the OP) Radio recording is available from Supraphon and other labels. An interesting historical document if not a main recommendation.

Absolutely - Bakala's first recording (1950 Czech Phil) was one of the three recommendations in the Gramophone Collection Survey (8/2004, AA), with the Ančerl and the 1981 Kubelik on Orfeo, the latter claiming top-spot.
Agree with you about Serebrier too - but if you're playing the RR HDCD, maybe try a dry run first time through the finale with a cautious volume setting, unless you got the power, and the speakers to take it.... The dynamic range is... whoa, I mean just whoa.. stunningly, state-of-the-art spacious as well.

Terrific performance though, gosh yes. Also got high commendation from AA in 04. For me a joint favourite with the Ančerl.

[vinteuil]

Absolutely - Bakala's first recording (1950 Czech Phil) was one of the three recommendations in the Gramophone Collection Survey (8/2004, AA), with the Ançerl and the 1981 Kubelik on Orfeo ... For me a joint favourite with the Ançerl.

... if it must have a squiggle, surely it's - Ančerl

[jayne lee wilson]

... if it must have a squiggle, surely it's - Ančerl

Gotcha - thanks!

[jayne lee wilson]

This is a work that demands to be heard in concert. Mrs. PG and I heard it in the Usher Hall a few years ago played by the Czech Philharmonic under Belohlavek some years ago and it nearly took the roof off! Strange that, afaik, he didn't record it.

No, he did it twice as Alpie lists.... the one I have...http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/oeu.../0095115889725
...isn't bad, but neither are its couplings topnotch, so....

Don't know the Brno one, but his earliest Martinu recordings (e.g. the Panton 4th) are often fresher and more spontaneous than later readings, so if it is an earlier vintage it might be worth a try... I guess it's this one -

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/musique-pour-orchestre-leos-janacek/0095115240724#item

.**EDIT.....turns out this is just a 1999 CHANDOS reissue of the Czech Phil one, Qobuz has the date (stated as 1993) wrong. (CHANDOS even get the recording date wrong themselves at top-of-page, it's 1990 -1992)https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%20241-7

If anyone tracks down the Brno recording I'd be pleased to hear about it...

[pastoralguy]

Well spotted, Jayne! I must investigate it asap.

[cloughie]

Did a quick Amazon check to see what recordings were available - thought that Masur c/w Dvorak 8 and the Lenard on Naxos for 52p and 1p plus p&p might be worth a listen.

[Bryn]

It's a great pity, very likely down to the influence of Zdeněk Nejedlý, that the original conductor of the Sinfonietta, Václav Talich, never got to record it. Fortunately he did record Taras Bulba and his suite from The Cunning Little Vixen, and they are available on Supraphon.

[visualnickmos]

I think Neumann's recording was mentioned; "tubas going awol..." at some point; anyone know if it was Neumann's Czech Phil version, or his SWF version? And - is his SWF version 'any good?' Seems an unlikely combo(?)

[BBMmk2]

Just heard the BaL choice this morning. I couldn't believe how he arrived at this. IMO, it sounded messy and rushed and intonation came into question as well, in some ways. Hardly a BaL winner!!

[vinteuil]

.

... an interesting review on amazon :

"This disc has been substantially improved on grounds of sound alone thanks to the 24 bit remastering. The performance of the Janacek from 1961 has long been regarded by collectors as probably without peer and so this remastering comes as an added bonus.
Quite apart from the inspired choice of tempo throughout the Sinfonietta, part of this recording's extra value lies in the authentic Slavonic nature of the orchestral sound. This was a cultural matter and reflected the Slavonic school of training that lay behind much of the playing. As a result the woodwind have an unmistakable rustic timbre, the higher brass are relatively thin toned but biting in impact, and few will forget the remarkable 'hooting' sounds of the horns in the Janacek. The virtuoso strings section is topped with an almost grainy sounding violin section. The whole thing adds up to a totally distinctive sound now sadly lost as a result of the increasing internationalism of orchestras worldwide.
This is a compelling and authentic disc of high quality which many will consider to be thrillingly authentic. The Slavonic nature of the sound produced by the orchestra ... adds enormously to the effect. The distinctive Slavonic woodwinds, string and brass timbres of these players is now sadly a thing of the past as a result of internationalism - a feature of orchestras worldwide as commented on above. This disc therefore has the added invaluable extra attraction of being a record of a cultural past not likely to be repeated in the future.I would suggest that this disc is arguably an indispensable part of any serious Janacek follower and worthy of serious consideration as a purchase."