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The Russian connection

Donald Macleod explores Jan谩膷ek's affectionate relationship with his daughter Olga and the musical fruits of a shared love of Russian, including Taras Bulba and 笔辞丑谩诲办补.

Donald Macleod explores Jan谩膷ek鈥檚 affectionate relationship with his daughter Olga and the musical fruits of a shared love of Russian, including Taras Bulba and 笔辞丑谩诲办补.

One of the most original voices of the twentieth century, Leo拧 Jan谩膷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, Jan谩膷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.

Jan谩膷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枚sslova became the joy and agony of his later, creatively enriched years. As a young man Jan谩膷ek turned to Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k. 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 Jan谩膷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 Jankov谩, soprano
Ivo Kah谩nek, piano

Hukvaldy Songs
Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno
Petr Fiala, conductor

Taras Bulba
The Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Rafael Kubelik, conductor

笔辞丑谩诲办补
Steven Isserlis, cello
Olli Mustonen, piano

Jen暖fa 鈥 excerpt from Act 1
Petr Dvorsk媒, tenor, 艩teva
Elisabeth S枚derstr枚m, soprano, Jen暖fa
Eva Randov谩, mezzo-soprano, Kostelni膷ka
Wieslav Ochmann, baritone, Laca
Chorus of Vienna State Opera
Vienna Philharmonic
Charles Mackerras, conductor

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Nejistota (Uncertainty)

    Performer: Ivo Kah谩nek. Singer: Tom谩拧 Kr谩l. Singer: Martina Jankov谩.
    • Supraphon SU41832.
    • Supraphon SU41832.
    • 30.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Hukvaldy Songs

    Performer: Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno. Conductor: Petr Fiala.
    • Warner Classics 2564619512.
    • Warner Classics 2564619512.
    • 4.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Taras Bulba (3rd movement)

    Performer: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rafael Kubel铆k.
    • DG 429 1822.
    • DG 429 1822.
    • 11.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    笔辞丑谩诲办补 (Fairy Tale) for cello and piano

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Olli Mustonen.
    • RCA : 09026-68437-2.
    • RCA.
    • 1.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Jen暖fa: Act I (excerpt)

    Singer: Petr Dvorsk媒. Singer: Petr Dvorsk媒. Singer: Elisabeth S枚derstr枚m. Singer: Elisabeth S枚derstr枚m. Singer: Elisabeth S枚derstr枚m. Singer: Eva Randov谩. Singer: Eva Randov谩. Singer: Eva Randov谩. Singer: Wies艂aw Ochman. Singer: Wies艂aw Ochman. Singer: Wies艂aw Ochman. Singer: Wies艂aw Ochman. Singer: Wies艂aw Ochman. Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker. Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker. Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker. Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker. Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Decca 414 48-3 2.
    • Decca 414 48-3 2.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Wed 4 Dec 2019 12:00

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