BaL 31.10.20 - Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen

[Pulcinella]

This is my favourite among Janáček's operas I think, mainly because it's less wordy than the others. I've seen no reason to branch out from just having the Mackerras recording, but I'll take Nigel's word for it if he disagrees!

Hugo Shirley, in October's Gramophone, says (about the new Rattle/LSO release):

With pinpoint playing from the LSO and close, detailed recorded sound, this is a Vixen with sharp teeth as well as sharp ears. Instead of the inviting, dewy soundscapes conjured up by, say, Mackerrras's Vienna Philharmonic, we have something a little more threatening.

It will be interesting to see what BaL makes of it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Presumably with the new Rattle LSO version (in Czech) included in the mix:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...en-sinfonietta

Many thanks, Pulci. Now added.

[Goon525]

The new Rattle is in Czech.

[Pulcinella]

The new Rattle is in Czech.

As also mentioned in post #12!

[Richard Barrett]

With pinpoint playing from the LSO and close, detailed recorded sound, this is a Vixen with sharp teeth as well as sharp ears. Instead of the inviting, dewy soundscapes conjured up by, say, Mackerrras's Vienna Philharmonic, we have something a little more threatening.

Now that is the sort of thing that's bound to get me interested. Indeed (writing this some way into listening) you hear that sharpness even in the opening bars. I like the idea of hearing the orchestration in more precise detail, and Rattle seems to be delivering that, on the basis of a first listen. My concern was: it may be in Czech, but is it actually going to sound like Czech, given that there's only one native speaker in the cast? I'm not entirely sure, without having the text in front of me. (Should it matter to a non-Czech-speaker? I guess not, really.)

[Petrushka]

Can someone who has it kindly confirm whether or not the new LSO/Rattle includes the text with the CDs?

[Richard Barrett]

Can someone who has it kindly confirm whether or not the new LSO/Rattle includes the text with the CDs?

The text isn't included with the download so I assume it won't be with the CDs either. However, you can download a free bilingual libretto from the Supraphon site here: https://www.supraphon.com/catalogue/libretto

[Bryn]

The text isn't included with the download so I assume it won't be with the CDs either. However, you can download a free bilingual libretto from the Supraphon site here: https://www.supraphon.com/catalogue/libretto

Thanks for that. Just a quite mention for the unwary, the libretto for ŠÁRKA is for the opera by Fibich, not the one by Janacek.

[Pulcinella]

Can someone who has it kindly confirm whether or not the new LSO/Rattle includes the text with the CDs?

The Gramophone listing at the top of their review says

Includes synopsis, libretto and translation

in which case I'm surprised that that's not what the 'digital booklet' mentioned on Presto's site seems to contain.

[Bryn]

The Gramophone listing at the top of their review says



in which case I'm surprised that that's not what the 'digital booklet' mentioned on Presto's site seems to contain.

QOBUZ includes a pdf of the booklet, downloadable by streaming subscribers. There is a synopsis but no libretto. For that you need the previously mentioned Supraphon site.

[Petrushka]

The Gramophone listing at the top of their review says



in which case I'm surprised that that's not what the 'digital booklet' mentioned on Presto's site seems to contain.

The reverse image of the CD set https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jan%C3%A1ce...s%2C180&sr=1-1 says 'programme notes in English' which mentions nothing about the libretto. To be honest, I'm increasingly annoyed that the libretto is not included as standard in opera sets or, failing that, an easily accessed online alternative.

I'm still trying to source libretti with English translation for a number of the less well known Richard Strauss operas and, to me, it's pointless to even listen to them without understanding what on earth is going on. It's the same with this Janacek. Thanks to RB we can access the libretto via the Supraphon site.

[Pulcinella]

The reverse image of the CD set https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jan%C3%A1ce...s%2C180&sr=1-1 says 'programme notes in English' which mentions nothing about the libretto. To be honest, I'm increasingly annoyed that the libretto is not included as standard in opera sets or, failing that, an easily accessed online alternative.

I'm still trying to source libretti with English translation for a number of the less well known Richard Strauss operas and, to me, it's pointless to even listen to them without understanding what on earth is going on. It's the same with this Janacek. Thanks to RB we can access the libretto via the Supraphon site.

Oops: someone at Gramophone seems not to have done their homework properly then.
Sorry for raising false hopes.


(And I must remember that if I use 'QUOTE' in a message that bit doesn't get picked up if the message is then subsequently quoted, so it was perhaps not the best idea in this case!)

[Darloboy]

At last! A work that hasn't been covered before during the time I've been listening to BaL

[Darloboy]

At last! A work that hasn't been covered before during the time I've been listening to BaL

And the limited number of recordings available should mean that it'll be a fairly comprehensive survey. At one time Mackerras would have been a banker for first choice - I'll listen with interest.

[Pulcinella]

Not the little vixen, but a rare chance to enjoy Mr Broucek's excursions this coming Friday afternoon:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000nvbq