Boosey & Hawkes

Janácek: new orchestral suites from Naxos and B&H

(May 2009)

Naxos has recently launched a series of recordings of new Janácek orchestral suites, arranged from the operas by Peter Breiner, who conducts the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

The first release focuses on Jenufa and the Excursions of Mr Broucek (8.570555) and the second Kát’a Kabanová and The Makropulos Affair (8.570556). The third for future release will feature The Cunning Little Vixen and From the House of the Dead. The six new suites, all around a half-hour duration, are available on hire from Boosey & Hawkes (some territorial restrictions may apply).

Buy Vol.1 from our Online Shop
Buy Vol.2 from our Online Shop

Philip Kennicott discussed the first disc in his Gramophone column admitting that “they are a new guilty pleasure. Why guilty? Because in general I don’t endorse this sort of thing… But I can make an exception for these Janácek suites… The obsessive repetition, the nervous energy, the strange shadings and dark harmonies, the proto-minimalist effects are the main reason we love his music, which sounds convincingly modern and folksy at the same time. Breiner’s skilful arrangements retain all of that delight.”

“…a splendid disc. The extracts are expertly chosen by Peter Breiner… are nicely varied in character and pace, and are conducted by him with passion and sympathetic understanding… for a minimal outlay the music delivers treasure upon treasure.” Gramophone

Janácek Orchestral Suites from the Operas
arranged by Peter Breiner

From the House of the Dead (1928) 33’
3.picc.2.corA.2.Ebcl.bcl.2.dbn—4.3.3.euph.1—timp.perc—harp—cel—strings *

The Excursions of Mr Broucek (1920) 36’
4(III,IV=picc).2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn—4.3.3.1—timp.perc—harp—cel—strings

Jenufa (1904) 26’
2.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.2—4.3.3.1—timp.perc—harp—strings

Kát’a Kabanová (1921) 32’
3.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn—4.3.3.1—timp.perc—harp—cel—strings

The Makropulos Affair (1926) 29'
3.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn—6.5.3.1—2timp.perc—harp—strings *

The Cunning Little Vixen (1924) 34’
3.picc.2.corA.2.Ebcl.bcl.3(III=dbn)—4.3.3.euph.1—timp.perc—harp—cel—strings *

* not currently availabe for hire in the USA

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