Repertoire: The BEST and WORST Janáček Sinfonietta

David! Very pleased to hear you mention, with gusto!, Maestro Serebrier’s 2-disc Janacek on Reference Recordings. We are very proud of these recordings and welcome music lovers to discover them.

Dave, your passion is infectious. Thanks a million.

These videos where you play portions of the music and point out specific things before (and after) are so incredibly helpful! I know they must be some work to make, but please know that they are incredibly interesting and informative to me (and I’m sure, others too)!

The first time I ever heard this was at a conservatory orchestra concert, and my impression was like discovering gold. "Where have I been?"

We have Solti to thank for Mackerras's Janacek. Solti and Mackerras were very close friends. They holidayed together etc. After Decca's "Ring" cycle with Solti, Decca asked Solti to record a Janacek cycle with the VPO .Solti said_"I know nothing of this composer. You should ask the conductor Charles Mackerras who knows everything about Janacek." Decca did. The rest is history...

If there is one composer which really creates a new universe it's Janacek. The first time I heard music of him - Zápisník zmizelého (The Diary of One Who Disappeared) - it was the discovery of something that I never thought could even exist!

When you pulled up the Serebrier on Reference Recordings I knew I could rest easy. Stunning disc.

I was so looking forward to this video...the Sinfonietta is probably my single favorite work in the whole classical repertoire. My current favorite (which I got for a steal on LP just a couple of weeks ago is Bakala with the Czech Phil. Such ballsy brass! I’m a man obsessed. I will give Wit a listen, I quite enjoy all of his performances you’ve mentioned. Ancerl is wonderful too but not quite as bold and brave I think. Serebrier is very, very good and you get so much good stuff with it.

Darn it, getting me to buy more recordings

Dave, your insightful analysis gave me a deeper understanding of a piece I have always loved. For many years my "reference" recording of the Sinfonietta was the old (and great) Ancerl version. Thinking I needed to add a new and better-sounding recording of it to my library, I followed the advice of the "Penguin Guide" and obtained the Rattle version, coupled with the Glagolitic Mass. Boy, was I disappointed! After only one hearing I gave that recording to the local library and purchased the Wit version on Naxos, with which I am very satisfied (and the Mass coupling is equally fine). Your negative comments about the Rattle were right on target, as were your positive ones about the Wit.

Thank you. I have not heard those. I do have CSO and Cleveland Orchestra recordings. The last chapter heading of your video here mentions the "Burnout Philharmonic".

Thanks for turning me on to the Kubelik Sinfonietta. I love my Mackerras/VPO but I was ready for something different. Both of Kubelik's---the DG and the Orfeo are marvellous! Also, I've never been a huge fan of Taras Bulba but Kubelik has now made me a believer! What a performance!

Kubelik guest-conducted the Sinfonietta with the NYPSO. I was blown out of my seat. All sorts of extra trumpets across the back of the stage, and they were long ones. I have no idea what they are called. They looked like some baroque trumpets, but I'm sure they weren't.

Once I heard the Kubelik recording, I could never go back to any others. That's how good it is.

During a life spent working with classical music, I struggled with the fact that I was born a contrarian. I always need to shut my mouth up about expressing my opinions because I often disagree with most people. I am amazed that I agree with you so often and got addicted to these videos. In June 1996, in the Stadion Hall in Brno, I was there while Maestro Serebrier recorded his Makropoulos Case Synthesis and some of Chadwick's music (Aphrodite, and other pieces, I think). About the name of the orchestra: at that time, I was told they needed to often change the orchestra's name, like "Czech State", because in some markets, "Brno" sounded like the acronym of a radio (already then, geography was a neglected thing in schools). Inside the booklet of the original CD, which was single and different from the one you showed here, is written in the credits "Czech State Philharmonic of Brno". The orchestra's name is Brno Philharmonic (Filharmonie Brno), and I can see that Youtube AI called it "Burnout Philharmonic" 😂. A little anecdote that I remember, Mr. Serebrier started a huge battle with the orchestra union because he wanted the 4th French Horn replaced, which was impossible. I remember him going away while the management and musicians were fighting. It is so long ago that I hope it is not a big deal to tell.

It really warmed my heart to see you do an episode of the Janacek Sinfonietta. I went to listen to the Mackerras/Pro Arte recording and got the added bonus of the Weinberger Polka and Fugue from Schwanda. Reiner/CSO was the version I would usually listen to because no orchestra had better brass, but I always thought the recording was a little sterile. Mackerras lets the orchestra swing a little and it was way more enjoyable even if he didn't have Bud Herseth on trumpet. But thanks for giving me a whole evening worth of entertainment Dave!!!!

How could there be a better video review of Janacek's Sinfonietta! Absolutely amazing (so detailed). I ordered a bunch of CD's. I ran across Janacek while going through the Szell big box that I bought as per your other video. you should have a show on Sirius -educational, reviews, etc. etc. Thanks so much for all you do! I am going broke but learning a ton!

Thanks for the really informative talk on Sinfonietta. I've been enjoying the piece for decades without realizing things like the repeated ten note motif. Now, I enjoy and admire the piece even more. One of the reasons that the Serebrier/Czech State Philharmonic (Brno) may not gained much traction is a review in Fanafare by your former colleague Peter J. Rabinowitz which really panned the recording.

Thanks David! I found all of the recordings on apple music. Can't wait to hear new interpretations of this work. I especially like when they "whack the crap" out of the timpani at the beginning.

Fantastic review. I love Janacek, especially Taras Bulba, which I heard originally on an earlier Naxos recording but not Wit. I also have the Serebrier which has great vitality and chi. I would love to hear you do a video on the Taras Bulba Rapsody, which is my favourite Janacek composition. Cheers from Australia Dave