Janáček L. Lachian Dances, Cunning Little Vixen, Taras Bulba / BSPO / J.Hrůša

Leoš Janáček - The Lachian Dances 00:20:53

1. Ancient I 00:06:20

2. The Blessed One 00:02:12

3. Bellows Dance (Dymak) 00:02:09

4. Ancient II. 00:05:00

5. Celadna Dance 00:01:59

6. The Saws 00:03:09

7. Leoš Janáček - The Cunning Little Vixen. Entr´actes from the Opera 00:17:35

Leoš Janáček - Taras Bulba. Rhapsody for Orchestra. After N.V.Gogol´s Novel 00:24:21

8. The Death of Andrei 00:09:22

9. The Death of Ostap 00:05:27

10. The Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba 00:09:26

Brno Philharmonic Orchestra

Jakub Hrůša conductor

Many seasoned conductors keep returning to Janáček's symphonic works - owing to their sparkling expressiveness, colourful emotions and lucid purity drawn deep from the wellspring of folk music. Jakub Hrůša proves that fascination with Janáček's music applies to the youngest generation of conductors too. The recording opens with six ebullient Lachian Dances and when it comes to The Cunning Little Vixen, Jakub Hrůša has chosen the rarely performed version of the Suite arranged by František Jílek, a connoisseur of Janáček's ouvre. His Suite retains Janáček's original instrumentation and spans the trajectory of the opera's action. The recording is crowned by the rhapsody for orchestra Taras Bulba. Janáček's initial title for the work - Slavonic Rhapsody - reflects not only national but also Slavonic pride, which is celebrated here in the character of the fearless Cossack leader Taras Bulba. Janáček masterfully succeeded in transposing his fascination with the culture of Tsarist Russia into a composition which on this CD is undertaken by a young conductor fascinated in turn by Janáček's work.

(Supraphon 2008)