JANACEK: SINFONIETTA; 4 OPERA PRELUDES; TARAS BULBA - MACKERRAS, ANCERL

Janáček Sinfonietta; 4 Opera Preludes; Taras Bulba

Charles Mackerras
Pro Arte Orchestra
Karel Ančerl
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

“Charles Mackerras has shown himself one of the finest Janáček conductors. His readings convey a sense of burning belief in and love of Janáček’s music; they are well prepared; yet it is as if the strangeness and beauty of the music were being revealed for the first time. The engineers have excelled themselves, matching this bold approach with an equally bold recording … In the four Preludes the performances are excellently dramatic, and most moving.” 


Sinfonietta, 4 Opera Preludes:
Sinfonietta (1926) [24:41]
1. Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso 2:20
2. Andante – Alegretto – Maestoso 6:12
3. Moderato – Con Moto – Tempo Primo – Prestissimo – Moderato 5:47
4. Allegretto 3:01
5. Andante con moto – Maestoso – Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso – Adagio 7:18

Operatic Preludes [21:12]

6. The Makropulos Affair 5:10
7. Katya Kabanova 4:44
8. The House of the Dead 5:34
9. Jenufa (prelude: ‘Jealousy’) 5:42

Taras Bulba: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Karel Ančerl
Taras Bulba (1915-8) ‘Rhapsody for Orchestra’ [21:49]
10. Andrei’s Death 8:30
11. Ostap’s Death 4:59
12. Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba 8:19