Leoš Janáček
Leos Janácek (1854-1928) is regarded as the greatest Czech composer of the early twentieth century. In his early works, which included the opera Sárka (1888), and numerous vocal and instrumental works, Janácek followed a traditional, Romantic idiom, typical of late nineteenth century music. Having completed Sárka, however, Janácek immersed himself in the folk music of his native Moravia, gradually developing an original compositional style. Eschewing regular metrical phrasing, Janácek developed a declamatory method of setting the voice that follows the natural rhythmic patterns of the Czech language. Characteristically, Janácek allowed these patterns to inform the music itself. In addition, Janácek's harmonies, forms and orchestration are highly idiosyncratic. His music favors repetitive patterns, often set in stark contrast to longer, more lyrical, lines, or large blocks of sound. Dramatic effects are attained with minimal thematic or contrapuntal elaboration. The result is music of great rhythmic drive, sharp contrasts, and an intricate, montage-like texture. Exemplifying Janácek's radical stylistic transformation is his tragic opera Jenufa (1904), based on a story of jealousy, murder, and innocence.
At first unknown outside of Moravia, where he was recognized primarily as a teacher, conductor, and champion of folk music, Janácek first gained national and international fame with the Prague production of Jenufa in 1916. The success of Jenufa in Prague tremendously energized the composer, who, in his sixties, experienced an astonishing creative surge, composing several masterpieces. Janácek's euphoric state of mind could be attributed to two factors. First of all, after the foundation, in 1918, of the Czechoslovak state, Janácek became a national celebrity. The second, and perhaps more important, factor, was Janácek's affection for Kamila Stösslová, a considerably younger married woman. While his ardor was not reciprocated, Janácek's passion for Kamila undoubtedly simulated his creativity. Janácek's modern fame rests on his four last operas, Kát'a Kabanová (1921), The Cunning Little Vixen (1924), The Makropulos Affair (1926) and the posthumously premiered From the House of the Dead (1930). What makes these works outstanding is Janácek's profound dramatic sense, which allows his operas, in spite of their brevity, to effectively communicate a complex plot. The dramatic effect is heightened by the composer's ability to adapt his music to the tonal and rhythmic characteristics of the Czech language. The last four operas in particular are perfectly paced for the right dramatic impact. In addition, Janácek drew on the inner resources of music and speech to convey complex feelings and emotional states to his listeners. Janácek's extraordinary power in translating profound psychological insights into music truly comes to the fore in The Makropoulos Affair, based on a work by Karel Capek, a story about a woman with the gift of eternal youth. In 1926, Janácek, whose early interest in Moravian folk music developed into an effort to grasp Slavic musical traditions in their totality, composed his Glagolitic Mass, a work aiming to express the profound spiritual bonds underlying the seemingly disparate cultural traditions of the Slavic nations (the term "glagolitic" refers to one of the early alphabets of Old Slavic). During his final creative period, Janácek also composed a small number of exceptional chamber works, including the two string quartets and the Sinfonietta. In addition to his work as a composer, Janácek actively contributed to his country's musical life as a teacher, critic, and organizer. Founder of the Brno Organ School (later to become the Brno Conservatory), director of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, teacher at the State Conservatory of Prague, and initiator of many musical festivals, Janácek greatly enriched Eastern European music education and culture.
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1919: Boulanger, Janáček, Elgar & Debussy
Benjamin Baker, Daniel Lebhardt
Chamber Music - Released by Delphian Records on May 26, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Leoš Janácek, Idyll For Strings, Vi/3
Classical - Released by Classical.com Music on Feb 16, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: Complete Works for Piano
Classical - Released by Heritage Records on Nov 8, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonata for Violin and Piano: I. Con moto
Benjamin Baker, Daniel Lebhardt
Chamber Music - Released by Delphian Records on Apr 28, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: Sinfonietta
Berlin Deutsches Symphony Orchestra, Eliahu Inbal, Leoš Janáček
Classical - Released by Denon on Mar 17, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček - Great Recordings
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Jun 26, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: Intimate Letters - String Quartet No.2 / Intime Briefe - Streichquartett Nr.2
Amati Quartet, Leoš Janáček, Maulbronn Monastery Edition, Amati String Quartet
Classical - Released by K&K Verlagsanstalt on Oct 30, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jeux: Piano Works By Ravel, Janáček, Sibelius, Rautavaara and Ruiz del Corral - Extended Edition
Irene Cantos, Manuel Ruiz Del Corral, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Maurice Ravel, Jean Sibelius, Leoš Janáček
Classical - Released by Novus Promusica on May 23, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
String Quartet No. 1 About Tolstoi's Kreuzersonate
Classical - Released by Digital Music Group, Inc. on Feb 10, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček: Suite for Strings, JW VI/2 (Digitally Remastered)
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on Sep 24, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maria
Elmar Lehnen, Wiltrud de Vries, Bernhard Scheffel, Allan Parkes, Annette Gutjahr
Classical - Released by Laika-Records on Sep 14, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: The String Quartets
Classical - Released by Globe on Jan 1, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: Violin Sonata, JW VII/7 - Haas: Suite for Oboe and Piano, Op. 17 - Giner: Trois silences déchirés - Lutoslawski: Epitaph - Dorati: Duo Concertante for Oboe And Piano
Classical - Released by VDE-GALLO on May 30, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: Violin Sonata, JW VII/7 - Debussy: Violin Sonata in G Minor, L. 140 - Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op 80
Valérie Bernard, Isabelle Fournier
Classical - Released by VDE-GALLO on Apr 24, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček: Pohádka (Fairy Tale)
Leoš Janáček, Francesco Tamburini, Paolo Tirro
Classical - Released by 5673391 Records DK on Aug 26, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček: String Quartet No. 1, "Kreutzer Sonata" (Digitally Remastered)
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on Sep 24, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Volodja Balzalorsky Live in Concert Vol. 1: Sonatas for Violin and Piano by Brahms, Grieg & Janácek (Live in Vienna) (Live)
Chamber Music - Released by Cantabel Productions on Dec 20, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: Taras Bulba
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Petr Altrichter
Classical - Released by RLPO Live on Jan 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Volodja Balzalorsky Live in Concert Vol. 4: Famous Violin Sonatas by Janácek, Grieg & Brahms (Live from The Rogaska Festival) (Live)
Volodja Balzalorsky, Christoph Theiler
Chamber Music - Released by Cantabel Productions on Dec 20, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Die Friedeker Mutter Gottes (Nr. 4 aus Auf verwachsenem Pfade)
Classical - Released by soundnotation on Nov 5, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Auf verwachsenem Pfade
Classical - Released by Classicato on Jul 20, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo