Leos Janacek (1854-1928)

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20100120100222Forget pipe and slippers. In 1924, Leos Janacek (1854-1928) careened into his eighth and final decade with an almost rock star-like abandon: sleepwalking through his own personal erotic fantasy as his personal life crashed catastrophically around him. His was in love: infatuated to the point of madness with a woman nearly four decades younger, the very much married Mrs Kamila Stösslová.

Donald Macleod on Janacek's 70th birthday year, when he was headed for emotional ruin.

20100220100223In today's episode, Donald Macleod explores music of the open air - and the story of a woman six centuries old...

Janacek's 'Danube' symphony was left unfinished at his death - all that remains of a planned trip down the river with his beloved Kamila that never came to fruition. Meanwhile, the composer's Concertino for piano stands as one of his most charming works - full of filigree flourishes and charming melodies inspired by a spring spent in the idyllic countryside of Eastern Czechoslovakia.

We end with the climactic scene of the composer's penultimate opera - the tragic case of Emila Marty, doomed to live forever, in the legal drama 'The Makropoulos Affair'.

Donald Macleod presents music of the open air and the story of a woman six centuries old.

20100320100224Donald Macleod presents Leos Janacek's most celebrated - and spectacular - orchestral work: the Sinfonietta, inspired by military bands in Pisek, home town of the composer's muse Kamila. He also explores Janacek's trip to the UK in 1926, and dips into two of the composer's least-heard (and most peculiar) pieces; first, there's a handful of Nursery Rhymes for instrumental ensemble - full of surreal images of vegetables getting married and grandmothers in bushes - with the programme ending with the unique Capriccio for piano left hand, brass and flute.

Donald Macleod explores Janacek's Sinfonietta - and two rarely heard curios.

20100420100225Had the weather had been good in the Czech Republic, circa July 1926, Janacek might never have written one of the most extraordinary choral works of the 20th century. Holed up in the spa town of Luhacovice with nothing to do, the composer set his mind to a setting of the Mass - but this was to be no ordinary one...

Donald Macleod introduces a performance of Janacek's remarkable 'Glagolitic Mass', uniquely written to words in the medieval language of Old Church Slavonic, and presents a work once thought incomplete at the composer's death: his Violin Concerto, subtitled 'Wanderings Of A Little Soul'.

Featuring Janacek's choral masterpiece, the Glagolithic Mass, and his Violin Concerto.

201005 LAST20100226After more than a decade of lusting after Kamila Stosslova, Janacek was finally ready to leave his long-suffering wife. But there was to be no Indian summer of happiness for the 74-year old composer...

Donald Macleod presents the music of Janacek's last 12 months, including the String Quartet 'Intimate Letters' - a musical evocation of the hundreds of letters the love-struck composer sent his muse over the course of his infatuation. He also presents music from Janacek's last - and bleakest - opera, 'From The House Of The Dead'.

Donald Macleod explores the music of Janacek's tragic last year.

201401Folklorist And Teacher20140721For most of his life, Leoš Janကcek was known primarily as a folklorist and teacher and didn't achieve international recognition as a composer until he was into his sixties. He was a man of immense drive and determination and, alongside his passion for the folk music of his native Moravia, Janကcek improved the standard of music-making and music education in Brno where he spent most of his life.

Donald Macleod introduces works from the years leading up to Janacek's first big success including a sample of the wealth of folk songs he collected, a ghostly orchestral ballad, a piano piece written at a time of personal and professional crisis, and part of the opera which finally put Janကcek's career as a serious composer firmly on the map.

Donald Macleod focuses on the early years of Janacek's multi-faceted career.

201402Kamila20140722Janကcek first encountered Kamila St怀sslovက in 1917. His passion for this married woman, less than half his age, transformed the last decade of his life and spurred him on to greater heights of creativity. Donald Macleod introduces two works whose heroines were inspired by Kamila - a song-cycle in which a young farmer deserts his family to live with a beautiful gypsy girl, and an opera whose gentle heroine is unable to resist the temptation of an illicit affair with tragic consequences.

Donald Macleod on the first two works inspired by Janacek's love for Kamila Stosslova.

201403A Passionate Nature20140723One of Janကcek's favourite places was the peaceful village of Hukvaldy where he'd been born and where, in 1921, he bought a cottage in which he could compose, away from the hectic life of Brno. Shortly afterwards he began work on the opera in which he was able to combine two of his passions - for the natural world which had always been an essential part of his life, and for Kamila St怀sslovက, the married woman with whom he became obsessed. Donald Macleod introduces this everyday tale of Vixen Sharp-Ears, and Janကcek's next opera, whose enigmatic heroine was also inspired by Kamila. Elina Makropulos has lived for over three centuries and, as the elixir which has kept her alive begins to wear off, she realises that there's only one possible solution to her joyless existence.

Donald Macleod presents a string quartet and two operas, all inspired by Kamila Stosslova.

201404Reminiscence20140724Janကcek's 70th birthday was celebrated with concerts in Prague and Brno, the publication of his biography and an Honorary PhD from Brno University, which pleased him most of all.

Donald Macleod introduces two remarkably youthful works Janကcek composed around that time - an exuberant wind sextet and a group of choral settings of nonsense rhymes he came across in the children's supplement of his local paper, as well as a rhapsodic piece for cello and piano inspired by a Russian epic poem.

Donald introduces music from around the time of Janacek's 70th birthday.

201405 LASTFinal Year20140725In the final year of his life, Janကcek's love for Kamila St怀sslova became ever more obsessive. He wrote letters to Kamila almost every day, and sometimes twice a day. The intense passion he felt for her found its culminating expression in his 2nd String Quartet. Donald Macleod introduces this most personal of his works, together with another of Janကcek's best-loved pieces, prompted by the brilliant fanfares of a military band.

Exploring the final year of Janacek's life, when he wrote two of his most popular works.

201601A Very Strange Fairytale20160815Donald Macleod explores Janacek's youth with a selection of rare chamber works. Including extracts from his sparkling Nursery Rhymes for choir and ensemble.

The life of Leos Janacek (1854-1928) is one of the strangest in all classical music. Virtually ignored for most of his career, in his late 60s Janacek abruptly began to compose some of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century, whilst all the time hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with a woman more than half his age, Kamila St怀sslovက. Yet once upon a time Janacek was best known as a composer of chamber music. This week, Donald Macleod explores the composer's life through his instrumental and small-scale compositions, revealing the little-known story of his struggle for recognition.

We begin the series with Janacek's youth and musical upbringing in his native Moravia, as he makes his name as a composer and woos his wife Zdenka - his future companion of nearly half a century of turbulent married life. Donald Macleod presents a selection of music written during his studies in Leipzig - city of Bach and Mendelssohn, a set of variations for his new beloved, and a mature masterpiece looking back on his own idyllic youth.

Introduction; The Beetroot Got Married (Rikadla)

Collegium Vocale Gent

Het Collectif

Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor

Sonnet (Znelka) for four violins

Members of the Wroclaw Orchestra Leopoldinum, violins

Mlကdi (Youth)

Claude Debussy WInd Quintet, Bruno Martinez (bass clarinet)

Variations for Zdenka, Op 1

Rudolf Firkušny, piano

Romance and Dumka

Ulf Wallin, violin

Roland P怀ntinen, piano

There's Nothing Better than the Springtime; The Mole Creeps; Karel Rode Off To Hell; Ripped Trousers (Rikadla)

Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor.

Donald Macleod discusses Janacek's youth and musical upbringing in his native Moravia.

201602Beloved Moravia20160816Donald Macleod tells the tragic story of the death of Janacek's daughter Olga, and the effect it had on the composer.

The life of Leos Janacek (1854-1928) is one of the strangest in all classical music. Virtually ignored for most of his career, in his late 60s Janacek abruptly began to compose some of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century, whilst all the time hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with a woman more than half his age, Kamila St怀sslovက. Yet once upon a time Janacek was best known as a composer of chamber music. This week, Donald Macleod explores the composer's life through his instrumental and small-scale compositions, revealing the little-known story of his struggle for recognition.

By the first decade of the 20th century, Janacek was nearly 50 years old and yet had barely registered as a ripple on Europe's musical scene. As he struggled to make his name, his world was to be shattered by the death of his only daughter, Olga. Donald Macleod introduces a politically-charged piano sonata, plus a defiant - and highly-unusual - capriccio for piano left hand and ensemble.

Celadenky (Three Moravian Folk Dances)

Teodoro Anzellotti, accordion

Pilky; Ej, danaj! (Three Moravian Folk Dances)

Sonata 1.X.1905

Karim Said, piano

Capriccio (Defiance)

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano

Members of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra:

Ingela ؀ien, flute

Gary Peterson & Jon Behncke, trumpets

Christopher Dudley & ؀yvind Hage, trombones

Kjell Erik Husom, bass trombone

Hans Andreas Kjølberg, tenor tuba

Kantor Halfar

Prague Philharmonic Choir

Josef Veselka, conductor

Franta the Knacker's Son Played the Bass Fiddle; Our Dog, Our Dog; I'm Giving a Little Talk; The Old Woman was Making Magic (Rikadla)

Collegium Vocale Gent

Het Collectif

Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor.

The tragic story of the death of Janacek's daughter and the effect it had on the composer.

201603The Overgrown Path20160817Still languishing in obscurity and with his health failing, a dejected Janacek composes a unique piano masterpiece: his suite On an Overgrown Path. Presented by Donald Macleod.

The life of Leos Janacek (1854-1928) is one of the strangest in all classical music. Virtually ignored for most of his career, in his late 60s Janacek abruptly began to compose some of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century, whilst all the time hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with a woman more than half his age, Kamila St怀sslovက. Yet once upon a time Janacek was best known as a composer of chamber music. This week, Donald Macleod explores the composer's life through his instrumental and small-scale compositions, revealing the little-known story of his struggle for recognition.

The first decade of the 20th century was a depressing one for Janacek. Now well into his fifties, he remained a relatively obscure composer from Moravia, without any real success in Prague, let alone internationally. His health failing, Janacek poured his innermost thoughts into a unique piano masterpiece: his suite On an Overgrown Path. Donald Macleod explores the collection, as well as a rare work for cello and piano based on a Russian folk tale.

Ho, Ho, Off Go the Cows (Rikadla)

Collegium Vocale Gent

Het Collectif

Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor

Our Evenings; A Blown-Away Leaf; Come with Us!; The Frydek Madonna; They Chattered Like Swallows (On an Overgrown Path)

Stephen Hough, piano

Pohကdka (Fairy Tale)

Steven Isserlis, cello

Thomas Ad耀s, piano

Words Fail!; Good Night!; Unutterable Anguish; In Tears; The Barn Owl Has Not Flown Away (On an Overgrown Path)

My Tiny Little Wife; Granny's Crawling Into The Elder Bush; A White Goat's Picking Pears; German-Beetle Broke Some Pans (Rikadla)

Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor.

Exploring the composition of a unique piano masterpiece: the suite On an Overgrown Path.

201604Success!20160818In 1916, after nearly half a century of work, Janacek finally tasted success as his opera Jenufa was performed at Prague's famous opera house. Donald Macleod explores the aftermath.

The life of Leos Janacek (1854-1928) is one of the strangest in all classical music. Virtually ignored for most of his career, in his late 60s Janacek abruptly began to compose some of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century, whilst all the time hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with a woman more than half his age, Kamila St怀sslovက. Yet once upon a time Janacek was best known as a composer of chamber music. This week, Donald Macleod explores the composer's life through his instrumental and small-scale compositions, revealing the little-known story of his struggle for recognition.

As Europe went to war, Janacek was in the midst of what his biographer John Tyrrell called 'a wasteland', as his repeated attempts to get his works performed outside his native Moravia fell on deaf ears. And then... In 1916 his opera Jenufa - composed more than a decade before - finally premiered at Prague's opera house, propelling the 61-year-old composer into the column inches and conversations of Europe's musical cognoscenti. It would precipitate perhaps the most extraordinary and turbulent final decade of any composer in history. Donald Macleod explores two major works for piano and violin, before previewing Janacek's remarkable last years with a complete performance of his First String Quartet, subtitled Kreutzer Sonata.

A Goat Is Lying in the Hay (Rikadla)

Collegium Vocale Gent

Het Collectif

Reinberg de Leeuw, conductor

In the Mists

Ivana Gavric, piano

Violin Sonata

Vadim Repin, violin

Nikolai Lugansky, piano

String Quartet No 1 (Kreutzer Sonata)

Mandelring Quartet.

Donald Macleod describes the aftermath of the success of Janacek's opera Jenufa.

201605 LASTYour Kamila20160819Donald Macleod explores Janacek's turbulent, lovestruck, masterpiece-filled final years, as he drew inspiration from his unrequited love for Kamila St怀sslovက.

The life of Leos Janacek (1854-1928) is one of the strangest in all classical music. Virtually ignored for most of his career, in his late 60s Janacek abruptly began to compose some of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century, whilst all the time hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with a woman more than half his age, Kamila St怀sslovက. Yet once upon a time Janacek was best known as a composer of chamber music. This week, Donald Macleod explores the composer's life through his instrumental and small-scale compositions, revealing the little-known story of his struggle for recognition.

Janacek's breakthrough success in the late 1910s coincided with his falling head-over-heels in love with a young married woman, Kamila St怀sslova. For the last decade of his life, the composer existed in a strange, woozy idyll of unrequited love and astonishing musical fertility as he composed masterpiece upon masterpiece - among them the Sinfonietta and Glagolitic Mass and the operas Katya Kabanova, The Cunning Little Vixen and The Makropoulos Case - all written around his 70th birthday. Donald Macleod explores Janacek's chaotic personal life and musical genius in his final years, with a complete performance of the composer's Second String Quartet (Intimate Letters), inspired by more than 700 letters Janacek wrote to his beloved Kamila.

March of the Blue Boys

Pavel Sumpk, tabor

Eva Podarikova, celesta

Frantisek Kantor, piccolo

Martin Oprsal, glockenspiel

Concertino

Paul Crossley, piano

London Sinfonietta

David Atherton, conductor

Waiting For You!

Rudolf Firkusny, piano

String Quartet No 2 (Intimate Letters) (version with viola d'amore)

Gunter Teuffel, viola d'amore

Members of the Mandelring Quartet

Vasek, the Rascal Drummer-Boy; Liitle Frantik; The Bear Sat On a Tree Trunk (Rikadla)

Collegium Vocale Gent

Het Collectif

Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor.

Donald Macleod explores Janacek's turbulent, lovestruck, masterpiece-filled final years.

201901Dvo\u0159\u00e1k, A Mentor And A Friend20191202Donald Macleod explores Janက?ek's friendship with Dvo?ကk, with music from Janက?ek's first opera Šကrka and Sinfonietta.

One of the most original voices of the twentieth century, Leoš Janက?ek was a composer, musical theorist, folklorist and teacher. Born in 1854 in the Moravian village of Hukvaldy, which was then part of the Austrian Empire, in his youth German was the language of government, education and social influence. Having returned from studies in Germany, Janက?ek made detailed studies of native folk song and spent years annotating the natural rhythms of the Czech language. He was to write all his works for stage in his native language. The range of his professional activities gave him a range of outlets to voice what quickly became a life-long commitment to Czech culture.

Janက?ek was a contradictory man, who spent much of his life feeling at odds with his circumstances. Through five of his closest relationships, Donald Macleod builds a picture of how his inner tensions found expression in his music. The longest and most fractured of his associations was with his German speaking wife Zdenka. After a shaky start, he grew very close to his daughter Olga, with whom he shared his love of Russian literature. His friendship with the literary collaborator Max Brod proved to be the turning point in his quest for professional standing, while his muse Kamila St怀sslova became the joy and agony of his later, creatively enriched years. As a young man Janက?ek turned to Anton퀀n Dvo?ကk. They shared an interest in folk music, and the older composer proved to be a loyal friend and mentor.

It was when Janက?ek was in his twenties, studying in Prague around 1874, that he is thought to have first met Dvo?ကk. Their association was to last until the older composer's death in 1904.

Suite for Strings, Andante con moto (3rd mvt)

Janacek Chamber Orchestra

Four male-voice choruses

? lကsko (O, love) JW IV/17

Ach, vojna! (Oh to be a soldier) JWIV/17

Moravian Teachers' Choir

Lubomir Mati, director

Lachian Dances

No 1: Starodavny (Old-Time Dance)

Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra

Ondrej Lenကrd, conductor

Šကrka (excerpt from Act 1)

Peter Straka, tenor, Ctirad

Eva Urbanovက, soprano, Šကrka

Prague Philharmonic Chorus

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Charles Mackerras, conductor

Karel An?erl, conductor

Donald Macleod explores Jan\u00e1\u010dek's friendship with Dvo\u0159\u00e1k.

201902An Attraction Of Opposites20191203Donald Macleod explores Janက?ek's tangled relationship with his wife, with music including the Zdenka Variations and his first quartet for strings.

One of the most original voices of the twentieth century, Leoš Janက?ek was a composer, musical theorist, folklorist and teacher. Born in 1854 in the Moravian village of Hukvaldy, which was then part of the Austrian Empire, in his youth German was the language of government, education and social influence. Having returned from studies in Germany, Janက?ek made detailed studies of native folk song and spent years annotating the natural rhythms of the Czech language. He was to write all his works for stage in his native language. The range of his professional activities gave him a range of outlets to voice what quickly became a life-long commitment to Czech culture.

Janက?ek was a contradictory man, who spent much of his life feeling at odds with his circumstances. Through five of his closest relationships, Donald Macleod builds a picture of how his inner tensions found expression in his music. The longest and most fractured of his associations was with his German-speaking wife Zdenka. After a shaky start, he grew very close to his daughter Olga, with whom he shared his love of Russian literature. His friendship with the literary collaborator Max Brod proved to be the turning point in his quest for professional standing, while his muse Kamila St怀sslova became the joy and agony of his later, creatively enriched years. As a young man Janက?ek turned to Anton퀀n Dvo?ကk. They shared an interest in folk music, and the older composer proved to be a loyal friend and mentor.

Janက?ek met his future wife when he was employed by her father to give her piano lessons. The differences between Zdenka's comfortable upbringing and his impoverished childhood were marked, and once they married it wasn't too long before resentments began to surface.

Lave?ka (The Bench)

Martina Jankovက, soprano

Ivo Kahကnek, piano

Theme with variations (Zdenka variations)

Jan Bart s, piano

Amarus (3rd movement)

V퀀lem P?ibyl, tenor

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Czech Philharmonic Choir

Vကclav Neumann, conductor

Janacek, rev. Mackerras

The Cunning Little Vixen Orchestral Suite JW 1/9

II: The Vixen at the Gamekeeper's Farmyard.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Edward Gardner, conductor

Quartet no.1 (The Kreutzer Quartet)

The Pavel Haas Quartet

Donald Macleod explores Jan\u00e1\u010dek's tangled relationship with his wife.

201903The Russian Connection20191204Donald Macleod explores Janက?ek's affectionate relationship with his daughter Olga and the musical fruits of a shared love of Russian, including Taras Bulba and Pohကdka.

One of the most original voices of the twentieth century, Leoš Janက?ek was a composer, musical theorist, folklorist and teacher. Born in 1854 in the Moravian village of Hukvaldy, which was then part of the Austrian Empire, in his youth German was the language of government, education and social influence. Having returned from studies in Germany, Janက?ek made detailed studies of native folk song and spent years annotating the natural rhythms of the Czech language. He was to write all his works for stage in his native language. The range of his professional activities gave him a range of outlets to voice what quickly became a life-long commitment to Czech culture.

Janက?ek was a contradictory man, who spent much of his life feeling at odds with his circumstances. Through five of his closest relationships, Donald Macleod builds a picture of how his inner tensions found expression in his music. The longest and most fractured of his associations was with his German-speaking wife Zdenka. After a shaky start, he grew very close to his daughter Olga, with whom he shared his love of Russian literature. His friendship with the literary collaborator Max Brod proved to be the turning point in his quest for professional standing, while his muse Kamila St怀sslova became the joy and agony of his later, creatively enriched years. As a young man Janက?ek turned to Anton퀀n Dvo?ကk. They shared an interest in folk music, and the older composer proved to be a loyal friend and mentor.

A temporary separation from his wife meant it wasn't until Olga was a toddler that Janက?ek first got to know his daughter. From that point on they became very close, with Olga taking an active interest in her father's music.

Nejistota JW V/2

Tomas Kral, baritone

Martina Jankovက, soprano

Ivo Kahကnek, piano

Hukvaldy Songs

Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno

Petr Fiala, conductor

The Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Rafael Kubelik, conductor

Steven Isserlis, cello

Olli Mustonen, piano

Jen?fa - excerpt from Act 1

Petr Dvorský, tenor, Števa

Elisabeth S怀derstr怀m, soprano, Jen?fa

Eva Randovက, mezzo-soprano, Kostelni?ka

Wieslav Ochmann, baritone, Laca

Chorus of Vienna State Opera

Vienna Philharmonic

Charles Mackerras, conductor

Donald Macleod explores Jan\u00e1\u010dek's affectionate relationship with his daughter Olga.

201904Fantasy And Obsession20191205Donald Macleod assesses Janက?ek's compulsive need for his muse of later years, Kamila St怀sslova, with excerpts from Kat'a Kabanova and the Diary of one who disappeared.

One of the most original voices of the twentieth century, Leoš Janက?ek was a composer, musical theorist, folklorist and teacher. Born in 1854 in the Moravian village of Hukvaldy, which was then part of the Austrian Empire, in his youth German was the language of government, education and social influence. Having returned from studies in Germany, Janက?ek made detailed studies of native folk song and spent years annotating the natural rhythms of the Czech language. He was to write all his works for stage in his native language. The range of his professional activities gave him a range of outlets to voice what quickly became a life-long commitment to Czech culture.

Janက?ek was a contradictory man, who spent much of his life feeling at odds with his circumstances. Through five of his closest relationships, Donald Macleod builds a picture of how his inner tensions found expression in his music. The longest and most fractured of his associations was with his German-speaking wife Zdenka. After a shaky start, he grew very close to his daughter Olga, with whom he shared his love of Russian literature. His friendship with the literary collaborator Max Brod proved to be the turning point in his quest for professional standing, while his muse Kamila St怀sslova became the joy and agony of his later, creatively enriched years. As a young man Janက?ek turned to Anton퀀n Dvo?ကk. They shared an interest in folk music, and the older composer proved to be a loyal friend and mentor.

By the time he was in his sixties Janက?ek's life was already littered with flirtations and affairs, but the deep passion the young, married woman of twenty-six, Kamila St怀sslova roused in him triggered his musical imagination.

Kat'a Kabanova - Act 3 excerpt

Elisabeth S怀derstr怀m, soprano, Kat?rina

Jaroslav Sou?ek, baritone, Kuligin

Petr Dvorský, tenor, Boris

Vienna Philharmonic

Vienna State Opera Chorus

Charles Mackerras, conductor

The diary of one who disappeared (excerpt)

Nicky Spence, tenor

Vကclava Houskovက, mezzo-soprano

Victoria Couper, Clemmie Franks, Emily Burn, voices

Julius Drake, piano

Quartet for strings no. 2: Intimate Letters

4th movement : Allegro

Belcea Quartet

Glagolitic Mass - Credo

Tom  Juhကs, tenor

Aleš Bကrta, organ

Prague Philharmonic Choir

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

Tom  Netopil, conductor

Donald Macleod assesses Jan\u00e1\u010dek's compulsive need for his muse Kamila St\u00f6sslova.

201905 LASTFame At Last20191206In final part of his survey Donald Macleod explores the methods Max Brod used to make Janက?ek into a household name, with music from On the Overgrown Path, The Excursions of Mr Brou?ek and The Fiddler's Child.

One of the most original voices of the twentieth century, Leoš Janက?ek was a composer, musical theorist, folklorist and teacher. Born in 1854 in the Moravian village of Hukvaldy, which was then part of the Austrian Empire, in his youth German was the language of government, education and social influence. Having returned from studies in Germany, Janက?ek made detailed studies of native folk song and spent years annotating the natural rhythms of the Czech language. He was to write all his works for stage in his native language. The range of his professional activities gave him a range of outlets to voice what quickly became a life-long commitment to Czech culture.

Janက?ek was a contradictory man, who spent much of his life feeling at odds with his circumstances. Through five of his closest relationships, Donald Macleod builds a picture of how his inner tensions found expression in his music. The longest and most fractured of his associations was with his German-speaking wife Zdenka. After a shaky start, he grew very close to his daughter Olga, with whom he shared his love of Russian literature. His friendship with the literary collaborator Max Brod proved to be the turning point in his quest for professional standing, while his muse Kamila St怀sslova became the joy and agony of his later, creatively enriched years. As a young man Janက?ek turned to Anton퀀n Dvo?ကk. They shared an interest in folk music, and the older composer proved to be a loyal friend and mentor.

According to one of Janက?ek's great champions, the pianist Rudolf Firkušný, without Max Brod, Leoš Janက?ek's world reputation would not have arrived for many more years.` To which Sir Charles Mackerras, who made Janက?ek's music known and loved in this country, added: `Perhaps never!`

Žကrlivost

Vienna Philharmonic

Charles Mackerras, conductor

On the overgrown path (excerpts)

Rudolf Firkušný, piano

The Excursion of Mr Brou?ek to the Moon (Part 1 excerpt)

Jan Vac퀀k, tenor, Mat?j Brou?ek

Peter Straka, tenor, Azurean

Roman Janကl, baritone, Lunigrove

Maria Haan, soprano, Etherea

BBC Singers

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Ji?퀀 B?lohlကvek, conductor

Melina Mandozzi, violin

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Edward Gardner

Potulný š퀀lenec

Netherlands Chamber Choir

Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor

Donald Macleod explores how Max Brod turned Jan\u00e1\u010dek into a household name.