Janácek: Chamber Music & Orchestral Works [Box set, Collector's Edition]

Leos Janacek (Composer), David Atherton (Conductor), Charles Mackerras (Conductor), François Huybrechts (Conductor), Neville Marriner (Conductor), Riccardo Chailly (Conductor), Marta Benackova (Performer), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), London Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), London Sinfonietta Chorus (Orchestra), Thomas Trotter (Performer), Paul Crossley (Performer), John Constable (Performer), Eva Uvbanová (Performer), Brian Burrowes (Performer), Vladimir Bogachev (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Marta Benackova, Thomas Trotter, Paul Crossley, John Constable, Eva Uvbanová, et al.
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta Chorus
• Conductor: David Atherton, Charles Mackerras, François Huybrechts, Neville Marriner, Riccardo Chailly
• Composer: Leos Janacek
• Audio CD (October 12, 2004)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Box set, Collector's Edition
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0001Y4JH0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,142 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #8 in Music > Classical > Chamber Music > Sextets
  • #24 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Symphonies > Sinfonia
  • #36 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Instruments > Keyboard > Piano

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An introduction to Janacek, March 29, 2009

By 

Wyote (Seoul) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Janácek: Chamber Music & Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

Unlike the previous reviewer, I am in no position to evaluate the performances on these disks relative to other recordings. Instead, I represent something like an idealized layman's point of view. Janacek is not one of the twenty or so most famous composers, and I've even read some very harsh criticism of his music.

As for me, not even close to being any kind of expert, all I have are my ears, and they love lots of Janacek's music. For those unfamiliar with him and not sure what to expect, I'd place him in a historical context: late enough to be familiar with modernism and incorporate it into his music, but not as ready as other moderns to strike forth without romantic ideals of musical beauty.

I hope that snags someone's interest! If you are the kind of person who has already listened to a few recordings of Janacek's music, you could probably skip this particular offering, selecting some of the more highly recommended recordings--Janacek: Sinfonietta/Glagolitic Mass - Felicity Palmer, Malcolm King, Sir Simon Rattle, Philharmonia Orchestra or Janacek, Haas: String Quartets, for instance. I would recommend this to people like myself, with more interest than expertise, as a very reasonably priced introduction to an arguably somewhat neglected composer.

Having listened to these recordings a few times, if you find that you like them as much as I do, you might want to move on to his operas, which are increasingly getting high praise and for which he is probably most well known, as well as more famous recordings of his music. Finally, if you find that you like Janacek, you might like Szymanowski as well: for instance, try Szymanowski: Stabat Mater/Litany To the Virgin Mary/Symphony #3 'Song of the Night' - Sir Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Chorus.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Value, August 27, 2008

By 

R. E. Glasgow (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Janácek: Chamber Music & Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

The five-star rating for this set is at least in part because it is a splendid bargain. Not every performance is the ultimate: Paul Crossley's piano playing is very fine but it doesn't banish the memory of Firkusny or Schiff. And there are better recordings of the quartets than the Gabrieli's. But these are very fine recordings overall. This set, combined with Decca's omnibus opera collection (with Mackerras et al.), provides a broad survey of this important and fascinating composer at a bargain price.