Just got round to listening to this. An exemplary BAL with a good balance between explaining the work (unfamiliar to quite a few I'd guess) and comparing the performances within the 45 minutes available. I thought the difference between the 1908 and 1916 versions was made clear by the excerpts played: the original more astringent and echt Janacek, the latter looking back to the 19th century with more than a hint of Strauss. Janacek was supposed to have liked the reorchestration but given how old he was before he found his voice and his work started to be played I can't imagine him being too negative about any performance.
I could happily have lived with either of the two final possibilities judging by the excepts played. I can imagine the Mackerras edging over Jílek not least because it was the original version even though some of the individual Brno performers sounded absolutely tremendous.
I could happily have lived with either of the two final possibilities judging by the excepts played. I can imagine the Mackerras edging over Jílek not least because it was the original version even though some of the individual Brno performers sounded absolutely tremendous.
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