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Donald Macleod presents Janacek's choral masterpiece, the Glagolithic Mass - written in a matter of weeks in 1926 - as well as his Violin Concerto, once thought to be unfinished.

Had 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".

1 hour

Last on

Thu 25 Feb 2010 22:00

Music Played

  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Violin Concerto "The Wandering Of A Little Soul" (1926)

    Performer: Ivan Zenaty (violin) Performer: Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra Performer: Frantisek Jilek

    • SUPRAPHON 1115222.
    • 10.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Glagolitic Mass (1926, fp 1927)

    Performer: Felicity Palmer (soprano) Performer: Ameral Gunson (mezzo) Performer: John Mitchinson (tenor) Performer: Malcolm King (bass) Performer: Jane Parker-Smith (organ) Performer: CBSO Chorus and Orchestra Performer: Simon Rattle

    • EMI CDC7475042.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 25 Feb 2010 12:00
  • Thu 25 Feb 2010 22:00

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