Janáček: Glagolitic Mass; Taras Bulba; Sinfonietta; The Fiddler’s Child

Featuring

Jiří Bělohlávek
Hibla Gerzmava
Stuart Neill
Aleš Bárta
Jan Martiník
Veronika Hajnová

Czech Philharmonic
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Leoš Janáček

Did you know?

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Janáček intended the Sinfonietta to express the 'contemporary free man, his spiritual beauty and joy, his courage, strength and determination to fight for victory'.

Composition History

The Sinfonietta originated in 1926 as fanfares for a gymnastics festival dedicated to the Czechoslovak Armed Forces.

Composition History

Janáček's Glagolitic Mass was inspired by Archbishop Leopold Prečan, who suggested Janáček compose new church music due to the poor quality in his native village.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in the Rudolfinum, Prague, with sessions taking place between 2013 and 2017 for the different works.

Composition History

Janáček's Rhapsody for Orchestra, Taras Bulba, was inspired by Nikolai Gogol's novella and the strength of the Russian people, with his efforts impelled by Russian successes in World War I.

Compositional Technique

As a fierce patriot, Janáček chose Old Church Slavonic for his Glagolitic Mass, instead of the familiar Latin text.

Composer Biography

Leoš Janáček, the composer, experienced a personal renaissance in his later life, leading to many masterpieces, after his opera Jenůfa premiered successfully in 1916.