Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen

The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 1. Introduction
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 1. Dostaneme bórku
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Katerina Kolarova, Helena Tattermuschova, Zdenek Kroupa, Gabriela Kolarova, Jan Hlavsa, Miroslav Cizek
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 1. Change of Scene. To cucis Lapáku
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Jaroslava Prochazkova, Helena Tattermuschova, Zdenek Kroupa, Libuse Marova, Vera Strakova, Ludmila Erbenova
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 1. Bystrouscin dívcí zjev
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 1. Melas delat podlivá mne!
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Jaroslava Prochazkova, Helena Tattermuschova, Zdenek Kroupa, Libuse Marova, Eva Hlobilova, Milada Musilova
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 2. Introduction. Ach!
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Jaroslava Prochazkova, Katerina Kolarova, Helena Tattermuschova, Gabriela Kolarova, Eva Hlobilova, Miroslav Cizek, Jan Hlavsa, Jaroslava Dobra, Dalibor Jedlicka
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 2. Change of Scene. Ano, ve Stráni bude daleko lépe!
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Rudolf Vonasek, Zdenek Kroupa, Jan Hlavsa, Dalibor Jedlicka
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 2. Bud'to mám teziste polyblivé
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Helena Tattermuschova, Zdenek Kroupa, Jan Hlavsa
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 2. Change of Scene. Bózinku, ten je hezké!
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Eva Zikmundova, Helena Tattermuschova
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 2. Zlatohrbítek, lisák
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Eva Zikmundova, Helena Tattermuschova
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 2. Kdybyste vedeli, co já videla
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Jaroslava Prochazkova, Eva Zikmundova, Helena Tattermuschova, Eva Hlobilova, Jaroslava Dobra
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 3. Introdution. Dez sem vandroval
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Josef Heriban, Zdenek Kroupa
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 3. Bezí liska k Táboru
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Eva Zikmundova, Helena Tattermuschova, Vera Ourednikova
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 3. Kolik jesme uz meli detí?
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Eva Zikmundova, Josef Heriban, Helena Tattermuschova
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 3. Change of Scene. A kde otec Pásek?
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Zdenek Kroupa, Jan Hlavsa, Jaroslava Dobra
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lisky Bystrousky), opera, JW 1/9 Act 3. Neríkal jsem to? - Je to pohádka ci pravda?
Composed by Leos Janacek
Performed by Prague National Theatre Orchestra
with Zdenek Kroupa, Miroslav Cizek
Conducted by Bohumil Gregor

Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen,Josef Heriban,Dalibor Jedlicka,Zdenek Kroupa,Leos Janacek,Bohumil Gregor,National Theatre Orchestra di Praga,Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra,Eva Hlobilova,Eva Zikmundová,Gabriela Kolárová,Helena Tattermuschova,Jaroslava Dobra,Katerina Kolárová,Ludmila Erbenová,Milada Musilova,Miroslav Cízek,Vera Ouredníková,Vera Straková,Jan Hlavsa,Rudolf Vonasek,Supraphon,Classical Music,Czech 20th/21st Century Opera,Opera

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May be english, but it is excellent
A Splendid Remastering of the 1991 EMI Session

Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Janácek: Osud (Fate)
Janacek - From the House of the Dead / Mackerras
The Cunning Little Vixen
Berg: Lulu
Janácek: Jenufa

ASIN: B0000C83YR
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

Prelude
'Going To Be A Storm Soon'
'Come On, Old Lady, And Let's Get The Show Started'
'Mummy! Mummy! What Is That?'
Pantomime
Interlude
'Look At How Big She's Grown!'
'I'm Just the Same Too'
'Look What We've Got Down 'Ere'
Interlude (Beginning) ('Ou, Ou!')
Interlude (Conclusion)
'You Should Take A Lesson From Me!'
'Sisters! Comrades!'
'Come On Then, Don't Be Frightened!'
Prelude
'Ah!' - 'Who's That Out There Screaming?'
Interlude
'In My New Parish Things Have Got To Be Better!'
'Once Long Since, Long Ago'
'Home Now?'
Interlude
'Something Is Wrong With My Equilibrium'
'Staccato! Flageoletti!'
'So Remember To Be A Good Man!'
'Memnestho Aner Agathos Einai'
Interlude
'O My God! He's So Handsome!'
'One Dark Night'
'Fox Goldenstripe'
'Can It Be That I Am Lovely?'
'Let Me Go! I Am Afraid of You!'
'If You Had Only Seen What I Saw Just Now'
'That's How It Is!'

Tracks:

Prelude
'In The Month Of May'
'Hey There, Harasta, How's It Going?'
'Little Foxes Running Fast'
'How Many Children Do We Have?'
'Put It Down Fast! Harasta, Harasta!'
Interlude
'Where Is Old Man Pasek?'
'Well I'm Damned!'
Interlude
'Spring Is Here At Last'
'When Evening Arrives, I Welcome The Rays'
'Hey! But I Can't See The Vixen There!'
'Tha-that Wasn't Me'

Customer Reviews:

May be english, but it is excellent.......2005-03-01

There is nothing like the Cunning Little Vixen. It's a masterpiece, and it's not even Janacek's best Opera! This recording, sung in english, serves the work well.

The orchestra and chorus are very well lead by Rattle. The vixen's dream in the first act is beautifully played. The translation is easy on the ears, fits the music well, and all the singers have excellent diction. Lillian Watson's Vixen is well sung, a nice lyric voice that suits the part very nicely. "Can it be that I am beautiful?" is heart-stoppingly beautiful. Sir Thomas Allen is his usual peerless self. As far as I'm conserned, he is the Forester. His wonderful song in the Tavern is so incredably well sung it should be entered into the hall of fame. Diana Montague is an excellent fox, and Gwynne Howell and Robert Tear are touching and wonderfull as the priest and the Schoolmaster. Howell also is a properly Pompus badger, and Tear is a humoros Mosquito. Nicholas Fowell is a creepy Harasta and Karen Shelby makes a nice Dog. 5/5

A Splendid Remastering of the 1991 EMI Session.......2004-03-24

This underrated modern opera, this time in English and conducted by Simon Rattle, is one most opera-lovers should own. I found this English performance warmly dramatic and listenable. Rattle's reading is more romantic and well-rounded than the Decca classic. Should the translation dissuade the buyer? Not at all. Some of the translated expressions are Brit expressions, but they work beautifully. When in doubt, just but the Mackerras version too.

The remastering here has opened up the acoustic of the original recording so the performance sounds as though it might have happened yesterday. The orchestra is alert and playful. The singers cannot be bettered. Lilian Watson is a superb, characterful Vixen Sharp-Ears, Diana Montague is a Fox to die for and Thomas Allen is -- well -- Thomas Allen. Did the man ever cut a bad record?

At roughly 100 minutes, and in a superbly packaged set with an all-new booklet with helpful notes and libretto, what are you waiting for?

Customer Reviews:

SUMMATION OF A LIFETIME'S DEDICATION TO JANACEK.......2006-04-12

Maybe these two discs are to be Sir Charles' farewell to recording Janacek. I wouldn't bet the house on it, though, because he still shows amazing energy levels at 80 years of age and is to conduct Makropoulos at the ENO next month. Nevertheless, you could certainly argue that these performances provide us with a summation of a lifetime's love and scholarly work on these scores from Janacek's greatest proselytiser.

Many of these works have been recorded by Sir Charles before, notably on his ground-breaking Pye recording from the 50's. There was a certain rawness about that recording (partly because of the musicians' unfamiliarity with the music and their sense of discovery, partly because of the dry acoustic) that suited this music particularly well - better, I think, than the plushness and greater security of the later Vienna Philharmonic performances.

The Sarka and Katya excerpts here come from Mackerras' complete Supraphon recordings of the operas. The Katya interludes really exist only as a result of Sir Charles' research and this is wonderful music that we (and the opera) would now be much poorer without.

Most of the other performances are taken from live performances in Prague. They are consistently fine and carry a strong feeling of authenticity when played, as here, by a Czech orchestra. The Jealousy Overture is a great opener, much better in a concert context than in Jenufa for which it was originally written. The Vixen Suite is just gorgeous. There are none of the humans in this Suite, not even the Forester's pantheistic final aria. It is all about the animals and includes the inspiring ballet in which the Vixen dreams of her freedom. Sir Charles and his Czech players give a truly uplifting performance.

Perhaps the most intriguing piece here is the rarity, the orchestral music Janacek wrote for the play, Schluck und Jau. This is the last orchestral music that the composer ever wrote. There are echoes in it of the imperial fanfares from the Makropoulos Affair and of passages from the House of the Dead but it also shows him still questing for new sonorities, fully brought out in this definitive performance.

The two big pieces on these discs - Taras Bulba and the Sinfonietta - are both great live performances. In the former, Sir Charles really gives the graphic and illustrative instrumentation full reign - the integrated organ sounds, the strangulated clarinet, the ideally crisp timps, the solo horn way up high in its register and the full rich brass ensemble of Taras' final apotheosis. The Sinfonietta, too, is as near definitive as you'll get. The full compliment of brass for the opening and closing fanfares are there and the tiered effects the composer demands are ideally realised. I suspect a bit of textual tidying up here and there from Sir Charles the scholar. Certainly the results are as clear and crisp as you could ask, whether in chattering woodwind, crystal bright trumpet playing or perfectly intonated string playing whether at speed or at rest.

All in all, these discs represent a wonderful summary of a lifetime's dedication the Janacek. Worth every penny.

Sir Charles in Prague.......2005-02-16

Charles Mackerras is probably the greatest exponent of Janácek's music of all time. This fine Supraphon set collects his excellent Prague recordings from the recent years. It appears to be his testimony to Janácek's fans. The set includes not only the famous workds but also some of the rarely performed pieces (it is not a complete set, however).

Taras Bulba and the Sinfonietta are recorded live, which adds to the dramatic thrill of these masterworks. Czech Philharmonic plays them marvellously, and the interpretations are second to none.

Some of the material have already appeared in opera boxes: the ouvertures and other music from Kát'a kabanová and Sárka. But the Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen is a fresh recording, in Janácek's original orchestration. The performance is nothing but superb.

Schluck & Jau was Janácek's last orchestral score. It is a fascinating piece, wonderfully scored, and performed with precision and enthusiasm. The performance of the Jealousy Overture - the original Jenufa ouverture - is also very fine.

Moreover, recording quality is state of the art.

Warmly recommended!

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Lives up to the rave review by Mr. Hollingsworth
Serebrier at his finest: The best Janacek discs!

Janácek: Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: Reference Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances/ Vocalise/ Etudes-tableaux
Antonin Dvorak: The Early Symphonies, Vol. II
Respighi: Belkis, Queen of Sheba
Copland: Fanfare; Symphony No3
Rimsky-Korsakov: SCHEHERAZADE

ASIN: B00005RDB2
Release Date: 2001-10-30

Tracks:

Sinfonietta: Fanfares
Sinfonietta: The Castle
Sinfonietta: The Queen's Monastary
Sinfonietta: The Street
Sinfonietta: The Town
Lachian Dances: Starodavny
Lachian Dances: Pozehnany
Lachian Dances: Dymak
Lachian Dances: Starodavny II
Lachian Dances: Celadensky
Lachian Dances: Pilky
Taras Bulba: The Death Of Andrei
Taras Bulba: The Death Of Ostap
Taras Bulba: Prophecy And Death Of Taras Bulba

Tracks:

The Cunning Little Vixen - Ste: Part One
The Cunning Little Vixen - Ste: Part Two
Jealousy (Original Prld To Jenufa)
From The House Of The Dead: Prld
The Makropulos Case: Act I
The Makropulos Case: Act II
The Makropulos Case: Act III

Customer Reviews:

Lives up to the rave review by Mr. Hollingsworth.......2003-01-24

I've become a recent devotee of Janacek's music, in particular with regards to his most folk-inspired works (Lachian Dances and Rakos Rakoczy). I'm always on the lookout for worthy recordings of the Lachian Dances and the previous review seemed positive. I was not disappointed. Compared to the Decca Double Decker with Mackerras and Huybrechts, Srebenier extracts a bit more verve and fun from his players. The Decca recording is indeed impressive in its own right (I'd give it 4-and-a-half stars), but the Czech State Philharmonic and Srebenier seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves playing on "home turf" as it were. In other words, although the Decca recording sounds more polished from a technical standpoint, the playing sounds a little stately or "officious" (for lack of a better word) compared to the Reference recording. If you already have the Decca recording, by all means, go for this one as well.

Serebrier at his finest: The best Janacek discs!.......2002-07-19

For decades, Mackerras' recording of Janacek's Taras Bulba and Sinfonietta has been deemed the best in the catalogue, against which all others have been measured. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO), which knows as much of Janacek as they do of Bruckner, played the works with authority and with real feeling. The strings are of real bloom and weight, the woodwinds crispy, the brass blazen and glorious, and the percussion mesmerizing. Sir Charles Mackerras, among the best of Janacek's interpreters (along with Bretislav Bakala, Frantisek Jilek, & Vaclav Neumann earlier), gives the renditions of vividness and imagination and the phrasings are as genuine and ideal as expected.

But,...here comes this recording! Let me say upfront that Serebrier measures up to Mackerras in every way. And the Czech State Philharmonic (of Brno) is as authoritative as the VPO, with every bar & every detail so well caught and conveyed even at higher levels than its Viennese rival. Furthermore, the Czech State Philharmonic brings out more authenticity of these works, thanks in some part to the recording. For example, listen to the second movement of Sinfonietta "The Castle." Notice how a sense of mystery, after, say 1'35", becomes compellingly restraint and haunting (the strings and woodwinds must be credited for this, as well as Serebrier, who conveys these dimensions more successfully than even Belohlavek). How about the third movement "The Queen's Monastary", which is played with real beauty and eloquence, with a certain feeling of nostalgia and sadness. Exemplary, even in regards to the other works like Taras Bulba and the Lachian Dances. I would hesitate to replace my Decca recording of the Lachian Dances well served by Francois Huybrechts and the London Philharmonic, especially since it's coupled with Janacek's Vec Makropulos-which London Decca foolishly deleted-along with other Janacek's operas extremely well executed by Mackerras, the VPO, and its wonderful casts (remember Elisabeth Soderstrom?). Instead, Serebrier's edition is well worth having: it has plenty of vitality and enjoyment. And the way Serebrier brings out the tragic menance and drama of Taras Bulba is idiomatic and purely exciting. The closing of Taras Bulba is done triumphantly and with appropriate grandioseness, although the organ should have more of an imposing presence.

Reference Recordings (RR), which compiled the original 1995-1996 recordings of these works, includes the second disc (under the two for the price of one scheme). This disc contains selections from Janacek's popular operas: Suite from "The Cunning Little Vixen", preludes to "Jenufa" (entitled "Jealously") and "From the House of the Dead", and Serebrier's Symphonic Synthesis of "Vec Makropulos." This second disc is as every bit enjoyable as the first disc containing Sinfonietta, Taras Bulba, and the Lachian Dances. The "Cunning Little Vixen" Suite (in the Talich/Smetacek edition) is done with upmost vividness and flair. But the Vec Makropulos synthesis is every bit as paradigmatic. Serebrier, a very successful composer in his own right, confessed the challenge he faced in coming up with the synthesis, which no one has done before. Well, it pays off. The synthesis upholds the essence of Janacek's very demanding opera, while not minimizing its emotional and musical impact. Moreover, the Czech State Philharmonic comes up huge again (the prelude comes off well and with fire under their musicianship).

So, an highly enjoyable two-disc set that in many ways outshine Mackerras' Decca recording. As alluded to earlier, the quality of the recording is part of this album's success. The sound is more "Czech" in feeling and extremely well focused. You might be tempted to buy Belohlavek's Chandos recording of especially the Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba. Chandos likewise offer, for the price of one, a two-disc (compiled) set of these works, plus Fiddler's Child as well as Idyll and Suite (both for Strings idiomatically played by Gregory Rose and the Jupiter Orchestra), but minus the "House of the Dead" prelude and "Vec Makropulos." The Chandos album is well worth having, though Belohlavek's approach to Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba is not as ideal as Serebrier or Mackerras (the brass of the Czech Philharmonic is surprisingly not as glorious and blazen as the Czech State Philharmonic or the VPO and their strings lack tonal radiance and body comparatively speaking). Otherwise, Belohlavek is better on the other works, like Fiddler's Child and the "Cunning Little Vixen" Suite.

But, Serebrier's recordings of Janacek's masterpieces can now be deemed as the benchmark recordings against which all others will be measured! Will Serebrier record Janacek's operas as a just compensation for the deleted Decca/Mackerras recordings (still held as the best in the catalogue)? Oh boy I dare hope so!

Leos Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen - Lucia Popp / Eva Randová / Dalibor Jedlicka / Vienna Philharmonic / Vienna State Opera Chorus / Sir Charles Mackerras
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Mackerras champions Janacek brilliantly!

Cunning Little Recording

A wonderful animal opera

Leos Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen - Lucia Popp / Eva Randová / Dalibor Jedlicka / Vienna Philharmonic / Vienna State Opera Chorus / Sir Charles Mackerras
Leos Janacek , Sir Charles Mackerras , Lucia Popp (Vixen) , and Vienna Philharmonic
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Janacek - From the House of the Dead / Mackerras

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Janacek: The Diary of One Who Disappeared

The Bartered Bride

ASIN: B0000041RA
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Prelude - Vienna PO/Sir Charles Mackerras
Act One: 'Donstaneme bourku' - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act One: 'Kmotrenka zakoncertovala si take?' - Miriam Ondraskova
Act One: 'Mami!' - Lucia Popp
Act One: Pantomime - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act One: Na dvore jezerske - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act One: 'To cucis Lapaku' - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act One: Ze nevis, co mame?' - Zuzana Hudecova
Act One: Pantomime - Vienna PO/Sir Charles Mackerras
Act One: 'Melas delat podliva mne!' - Libuse Marova
Act One: 'Hled'te sestry jakeho mate vudce!' - Lucia Popp
Act Two: 'Ach!' - Lucia Popp
Act Two: 'Ano, ve Strani bude daleko lepe' - Richard Novak
Act Two: 'Domu? Pro ten snupec tveho spani? - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act Two: 'Bud'to mam teziste pohyblive' - Vladimir Krejcik
Act Two: 'Pomni, abys byl dobrym muzem!' - Richard Novak
Act Two: 'Bozinku, ten je hezke!' - Lucia Popp
Act Two: 'Kradla jsem!' - Lucia Popp
Act Two: 'Zlatohrbitek, lisaks krouzkovymi pesky' - Eva Randova
Act Two: 'Kdybyste vedeli, co ja videla' - Eva Zigmundova

Tracks:

Act Three: 'Dez sem vandroval, mozeka hrala' - Vaclav Zitek
Act Three: 'Bezi liska k Taboru' - Bratislava Children's Chor/Elena Sarajova
Act Three: 'Kolik jsme uz meli deti?' - Eva Randova
Act Three: 'Nusu dule!' - Vaclav Zitek
Act Three: 'A kde otec Pasek?' - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act Three: 'To uz ne!' - Vladimir Krejcik
Act Three: 'Nerikal jsem to?' - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act Three: 'Hoj! Ale neni to Bystrousky!' - Dalibor Jedlicka
Act Three: 'Totok nejesem ja' - Peter Saray
Orch Suite: I. Andante - Vienna PO/Sir Charles Mackerras
Orch Suite: II. Andante - Vienna PO/Sir Charles Mackerras

Customer Reviews:

Mackerras champions Janacek brilliantly!.......2003-04-07

What a combo Amazon offers Janacek fans. "Jenufa" and "The Cunning little Vixen" are absolute masterpieces and in the hands of the composer's greatest interprepter, Mackerras, these recordings are non-pareil. The singing of Soderstrom and Lucia Popp make any other recordings a redundancy and an act of futility. Ravishingly beautiful is the only way to describe their performances. These superb recrodings are in the case of "Vixen" , a momument to the healing power of the act of creation. and in the case of "Jenufa" a monument to the victory of human compassion and its power of heallng.. All singers bring glory to the music and the Vienna Philarmonic plays as one born to perform this music as no other orchestra. These cds belong in your collection: deeply moving experiences that only improve upon contnued listering. Bravo to Mackerras for his one man renaissance of Janacek's masterpieces. Let us not forget "Katya Kabanova" a third member of this holy trio. As in "Jeunfa" Sodertsrom triumphs in this work as well.

Cunning Little Recording.......2003-01-19

Excellent recording of an intruguing work. I bought this particular recording because of the strong lineup of musicians: Sir Charles Mackerras conducts- he seems to be one of the reigning Janacek experts these days, and Lucia Popp is a very highly charged Vixen. Of course, the orchestra (Vienna Philharmonic) deserves recognition, too- they did a fine job on this recording. I don't know many different interpretations of this opera, having mainly just listened to this CD set countless times, but it's definitely worth owning.

If you don't feel like spending the money for CD's of the entire opera, the condensed [orchestral] version is also well-written, but it does leave out some fine musical moments. The orchestral version has been recorded many times by different people, and it's relatively easy to find.

A wonderful animal opera.......2002-05-29

Czech composer Leos Janacek wrote a series of operas late in his life: Kat'ia Kabanova, Cunning Little Vixen, The Makropoulos Affair, and From the House of the Dead, in that order. All are magnificent, standing with the very best work of the Czech masters Smetana and Dvorak. Even among those late operas, though, Vixen stands out because of its vibrant orchestration and easy approachability. It is quite popular, and it has even been featured in an animated version for TV by Geoff Dunbar of Peter Rabbit fame.

The story revolves around the Vixen, who is a real fireball, always gracefully foxing her way in and out of tough situations with the force of her personality. This character is played by a soprano in a fox costume, in this case Lucia Popp. I'm not sure if she wore the costume in the studio, but she may well have, because she gives her part a wonderful vivaciousness and gusto - you can almost imagine glistening fangs as she heatedly preaches to the hens about oppression. Her spirited tone adds immeasurably to the recording as a whole.

The adult male leads, who play human parts (the Schoolmaster, the Forester, and the poacher Harasta), also do a very fine job. In particular, their Czech diction is exemplary, though with the sound of the Vixen resonating in the ears they sometimes sound Germanic by comparison.

And the children! The dance at the beginning of Act III, which depicts the Vixen with her cubs recognizing and defusing a trap, is one of the greatest examples of synthesized folk music I've ever encountered. The children's choir hired for this recording sing the melody, built on the Lydian mode and the whole-tone scale, flawlessly, vigorously and rhythmically.

Through all this, Mackerras shows the utmost sympathy to the bright colors and poignant orchestrational details. And the Vienna Philharmonic, often among the most conservative of ensembles, play brightly and faithfully, with solo passages that sound exotic and brilliantly evoke animal sounds.

This is simply a great recording. Not to be missed.

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An overgrown path to the opera suites
An overgrown path to the opera suites

Janácek: Opera Suites

Manufacturer: Supraphon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00001QEFT
Release Date: 1999-10-01

Customer Reviews:

An overgrown path to the opera suites.......2001-02-28

Janacek opera suites present an unexplored new era because actually Janacek never have considered to write orchestral suites even to one of his seven operae

Janacek used to regard his operae as entities with a whole content of their own who did'nt need any refinement for orchestral listeners .

Idiosincrastic and Whimsical are only few titles which tried to depict Janacek music. Dvorak did'nt even try to disclose his sheer detest of what he heard in it.

We need however to admit that Janacek had managed to plant in our minds the seeds of affection and wonder eventhough from the first glimpse his music is not easy to digest.

The opera suites emerged to the concert halls thanks to the courtesy of the famous Czech conductors Tallich, Jilek and Smolka who skillfuly arranged all these almost forgotten treasures which probably would have been lost in provincial Czech Opera casts without their fertile work. .

An overgrown path to the opera suites.......2001-02-28

Janacek opera suites present an unexplored new era because actually Janacek never have considered to write orchestral suites even to one of his seven operae

Janacek used to regard his operae as entities with a whole content of their own who did'nt need any refinement for orchestral listeners .

Idiosincrastic and Whimsical are only few titles which tried to depict Janacek music. Dvorak did'nt even try to disclose his sheer detest of what he heard in it.

We need however to admit that Janacek had managed to plant in our minds the seeds of affection and wonder eventhough from the first glimpse his music is not easy to digest.

Tracks:

Act One: Introduction - Prague Chor & Orch/Milan Maly/Bohumil Gregor
Act One: There is a storm coming - Zdenek Kroupa/Katerina Kolarova/Gabriela Kolarova/Jan Hlavsa/Miroslav Cizek/Vera Ourednikova
Act One: Change of Scene. The courtyard of the forester lodge.-'What a suprise, isn't it Lapak?' - Zdenek Kroupa/Jaroslava Prochazkova/Vera Ourednikova/Libuse Marova/Ludmila Erbenova/Vera Strakova
Act One: The vixen appears as a maiden - Prague Orch/Bohumil Gregor
Act One: 'You should have followed my example!' - Libuse Marova/Eva Hlobilova/Milada Musilova/Helena Tattermuschova/Jaroslava Prochazkova/...
Act Two: Introduction 'Oh!' - Helena Tattermuschova/Dalibor Jedlicka/Chor
Act Two: Change of scene. 'Yes, things will be much better in Stran...' - Dalibor Jedlicka/Zdenek Kroupa/Jan Hlavsa/Rudolf Vonasek/Chor
Act Two: 'Either my centre of gravity is shifting' - Jan Hlavsa/Helena Tattermuschova/Zdenek Kroupa

Tracks:

Act Two: Change of Scene. Summer moonlight night 'Goodness me, how handsome he is!' - Helena Tattermuschova/Eva Zikmundova
Act Two: 'My name is Goldskin' - Eva Zikmundova/Helena Tattermuschova
Act Two: 'If you only knew what I have just seen' - Jaroslava Prochazkova/Eva Hlobilova/Helena Tattermuschova/Eva Zikmundova/Jaroslava Dobra
Act Three: Introduction-'When I was a vagabond' - Josef Heriban/Zdenek Kroupa
Act Three: 'A vixen's running through the woods' - Chor/Helena Tattermuschova/Eva Zikmundova
Act Three: 'How many children have we had?' - Eva Zikmundova/Helena Tattermuschova/Josef Heriban
Act Three: Change of Scene. In the Garden of Pasek's inn. 'Where is your husband, Mrs. Pasek?' - Zdenek Kroupa/Jaroslava Dobra/Jan Hlavsa
Act Three: 'Wasn't I right?'-'Is it fairy-tale or is it all true?' - Zdenek Kroupa/Miroslav Cizek

Great Arias and Ensembles From Your Favorite Operas

Average customer rating:

Great Arias and Ensembles From Your Favorite Operas

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0007SK9UG
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Escamillo: 'You're Most Kind, And In Return I Toast You' - Philharmonic Orchestra
Carmen: 'There's An Old Bar In The City' (Seguedilla) - Philharmonia Orchestra
Belmonte: 'Constanza! Constanza' - 'Oh What Trembling, Oh What Passion' (Aria) - Nicolai Gedda
Falstaff: 'Hey, Page Boy!' - 'Your Honour? Vermin!' (Monologue) - English National Opera Orchestra
Fenton: 'From Lover's Lips A Happy Song Is Flying' (Aria) - Susan Gritton
Lucia: 'Imagine When The Breezes Sigh' (Duet) - Philharmonia Orchestra
Edgardo: 'What Restrains Me At Such A Moment?'/Enrico: 'What Restrains My Righteous Anger?' (Sextet) - Philharmonia Orchestra
Turandot: 'Within This Palace A Story Lives Forever' - 'Gentle Princess Lo-U-Ling, Pure, Serene And So Gentle' (Aria) - Philharmonia Orchestra
Liu: 'I Beg You, Hear Me, Ah My Lord, I Beg You!' (Aria) - Philharmonia Orchestra
'Through Her Soul In Endless Grieving' (Cujus Animam) - Barry Banks
Ilia: 'My Father Was Taken' (Aria) - Rebecca Evans
Forester: 'When Evening Arrives, I Welcome The Rays Of The Setting Sun!' (Final Scene) - Thomas Allen
Aida: 'We'd Leave This White Oppressive Heat' (Duet) - Dennis O'Neill
Propulace: 'Glory To Isis, Goddess Fair' (Grand March From Triumphal Scene) - Philharmonia Orchestra
'Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion' (Aria) - London Philharmonic Orchestra

Janacek: Sinfonietta/Violin Concerto/Cunning Little Vixen

Average customer rating:

At budget price, the so-called Violini Concerto is worth hearing

Janacek: Sinfonietta/Violin Concerto/Cunning Little Vixen
Edinger , Neumann , and SWR Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Arte Nova Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Henri Dutilleux: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3
Dutilleux: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2
Dutilleux: Orchestral Works I
Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4

ASIN: B000AMPZP8
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

I. Allegretto. Allegro. Maestoso
II. Andante. Allegretto
III. Moderato. Prestissimo. Moderato
IV. Allegretto. Presto
V. Andante Con Moto. Allegretto. Allegro. Maestoso
Violin Concerto
I. Andante. Allegro. Presto. Andante
II. Andante. Moderato. Allegro

Album Description

Janácek first achieved worldwide fame with his Sinfonietta of 1926, written when he was already 72 years old. Its brilliant, tuneful originality has enabled it to become the chief work of this long under-appreciated genius to take its place in the standard repertory. This recording also presents two other orchestral masterpieces: the Violin Concerto, subtitled "Pilgrimage of the Soul," which was originally written in 1926 and reconstructed in 1988; and the orchestral suite from his fanciful children's opera The Cunning Little Vixen. The eminent Czech conductor Václav Neumann is joined here in the concerto by the brilliant violinist Christiane Edinger, who today performs with all the leading orchestras.

Customer Reviews:

At budget price, the so-called Violini Concerto is worth hearing.......2006-01-11

Janacek didn't write a violiin concerto, and it's not clear he actually began one. In 1988 a reconstruction was made from sketches of a work that later got absorbed into his 1926 opera "From the House of the Dead." But this is by no means a bastardized work. It's a fascinating 13 min. snippet of late Janacek, which is always worth hering. The work is so quirky as to be indescribable--there is a seonse of constant improvisation on themes that meld and merge, while the orchestra does strange things along the lines of the nature sounds in The Cunning LIttle Vixen. This 1990 performance by Christiane Edinger is lovely and very well recorded.

Vaclav Neumann and his Baden-Baden orchestra play on eveyr piece here. They are fine in the background of the concerto, but the brass aren't up to the famous Sinfonietta, unless you think that Janacek wanted them to bray loud and out of tune (admittedly, it's a fearsome work for the brass section.) This not very generous CD (56 min.) ends with the always welcome Suite from "The Cunning LIttle Vixen" in a mild, sweet performance. But the main reason to sample this bargain disc is for the concerto.

Janacek: Sinfonietta Op60; Cunning Little Vixen

Average customer rating:

A good bargain intro to the Sinfonietta

Janacek: Sinfonietta Op60; Cunning Little Vixen

Manufacturer: Arte Nova Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

'Military Sinfonietta' Sinfonietta Op. 60: Allegretto/Allegro/Maestoso
'Military Sinfonietta' Sinfonietta Op. 60: Andante/Allegretto
'Military Sinfonietta' Sinfonietta Op. 60: Moderato/Prestissimo/Moderato
'Military Sinfonietta' Sinfonietta Op. 60: Allegretto/Presto
'Military Sinfonietta' Sinfonietta Op. 60: Andante Con Moto/Allegretto/Allegro/Maestoso
Vn Con: 'Pilgrimage Of The Soul'
'The Cunning Little Vixen' Ste: Andante/Allegro/Presto/Andante
'The Cunning Little Vixen' Ste: Andante/Moderato/Allegro

Customer Reviews:

A good bargain intro to the Sinfonietta.......1999-03-31

I dearly love the Sinfonietta, and I think that no one's music library is complete without a recording. Mackerras is absolutely tops, but you could do a lot worse than with Neumann on Arte Nova (certainly if you listen to a lot of critics and go for the Naxos version, you will do plenty worse). The SWF is not the Vienna Phil, but they do boast strings that have a glowing tone (although intonation is sometimes suspect in the violins, although surprisingly not in the violas!), and good woodwind soloists. The trumpets (all 12) behave themselves for the most part, although there are some fluffs in I, but not too serious. Again, V sums up the piece for me. Neumann takes his time (or so it seems). He lays out the piece for you so that you can read it like a good book. He pays attention to much detail, and the SWF gives it to him. He expertly balances the various choirs (no mean feat in Janacek; this is where Lenard fails miserably on Naxos), and he has good flow (although not to Mackerras' exaulted extent). Engineering is fine, again superior to Naxos velvet-curtain treatment to 2/3rds of the orchestra. Heartily recommended for bargain hunters, but I would suggest that saving your pennies for Mackerras might even be wiser if you want only one copy in your collection.

Average customer rating:

A Czech master who deserves his legendary status
Great Conductors of 20th Century= Best Reissues of the 21st

Václav Talich

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006IGIU
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Tracks:

Sarka
The Water Goblin, Op.107
I. Andante Con Moto - Piu Mosso - Tempo I
II. Allegro Ma Non Troppo E Grazioso - Poco Meno Mosso - Tempo I
III. Adagio - Piu Andante - Tempo I
IV. Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo Presto
The Cunning Little Vixen - Suite

Tracks:

I. Moderato
II. Allegretto
III. Allegro Vivacissimo
I. Allegro Assai
II. Andante Moderato
III. Menuett
IV. Finale. Allegro Assai
III. Preghiera. Andante Non Tanto
Prague Carnival
I. Adagio - Allegro Molto
II. Largo
III. Molto Vivace
IV. Allegro con Fuoco
III. Amorous Couple

Customer Reviews:

A Czech master who deserves his legendary status.......2005-11-07

Amazon has carelessly neglected to indicate that this two-CD set is part of the Great Condcutors of the Century series. Vaclav Talich began recording in the 30s, and despite being born in 1883, thirteen years before the death of Brahms, he survived to make modern recordings. Everything in this set is in mono from 1951-54, made with Czech orchestra (all but one item is with Talich's own Czech Philharmonic).

By general agreement Talich is the gold standard for all the classic Czech composers, chiefly Dvorak, Smetana, Suk, and to a lesser degree Janacek (since he didn't record the operas, only orchestral suites from them--the suite from Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen is represented here). Talich's secret was a warm, humane conducting style which coaxed glowing tone from his musicians, along with alert, lively rhythms. But then, how can one really describe how a master does it?

Since all the Czech selections here are great, there's no need to analyze them--the reviewer below has at least named each item, unlike Amazon. I was particularly captivated by Talich's performance of a neglected Dvorak tone poem, The Water Goblin. Suk's Serenade fro Strings is in the same relaxed, balmy genre as Dvorak's better-known serenade.

The two deviations form Czech fare are a single movement, meltingly done, from Tchaikovsky's "Mozariana" Suite #4 and a Mozart Sym. #33. The Mozart is a live performance in fairly murky radio sound; it reveals Talich to be a brisk, streamlined conductor of Mozart but with plenty of charm and ease in the phrasing. The big work on CD 2, the Dvorak "New World," is caught in somewhat wobbly sound from 1954 and although excellent (it's quite lyrical and full of tangy Czech woodwind playing) could have been replaced. This piece has been recorded too often to claim that Talich is incomparable in it.

All in all, here is one of those rare installments in this series where everything comes together: the conductor is genuinely great, the material is fairly unknown, the performances rise to the highest standard. Five stars, definitely.

Great Conductors of 20th Century= Best Reissues of the 21st.......2003-03-27

It's sad that the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" reissue series has not gotten more notice on Amazon and in other places, because it has my vote for the best reissue program thus far of the 21st Century. Drawing from the archives of all the major classical labels (EMI, Sony, BMG, DG, Decca, Philips, Supraphon, etc.), EMI and IMG Artists have assembled a wonderful series of affordable two-disc sets by the leading conductors of the last century. And unlike its counterpart, "The Great Pianists of the 20th Century," which are basically compilations of material already available on other CDs, the "Great Conductors" features rare and, for the most part, previously unreleased performances!

This particular CD, Volume 24, features the great Czech conductor Vaclav Talich, who led the world-renowned Czech Philharmonic for nearly a quarter century. As the track information is not abundantly clear above, allow me to mention that these discs feature memorable performances of Smetana's "Sarka" from "Ma Vlast" and "Prague Carnival," Dvorak's symphonic poem "The Water Goblin" and "New World" Symphony (a Talich-specialty), and Mozart's Symphony No. 33. Also here are rarer works, nonetheless beautifully played, like Suk's "Serenade for String Orchestra," Janacek's "The Cunning Little Vixen Suite" and Benda's "Symphony for String Orchestra," a piece that Talich single-handedly introduced into the Czech repertoire. Finally, Tchaikovsky's "Orchestral Suite No.4," aka "Mozartiana," finds Talich conducting the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra instead of in his usually place with the Czech Philharmonic. All of the recordings were made between 1951 and 1954, and while the performances are in mono, they sound wonderful.

Whether you are a serious collector of classical music or a beginner, the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" has something for everyone. If the prized, rare performances previously unreleased on CD (or ever!) doesn't excite you, then use this as an opportunity to check out one of the greatest conductors ever recorded. Chances are, since stores are offering increasingly homogenized classical music sections, this conductor isn't even in your collection. And that would truly be a shame.

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