Leos Janacek: Vec Makropulos (The Makropulos Case) / Lachian Dances [Import, Box set]

Leos Janacek (Performer), Sir Charles Mackerras (Performer), Francois Huybrechts (Performer), Beno Blachut (Orchestra), Dalibor Jedlicka (Orchestra), Vladimir Krejcik (Orchestra), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist), Vienna State Opera Chorus (Artist), London Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist), Elisabeth Söderström (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leos Janacek, Sir Charles Mackerras, Francois Huybrechts
• Orchestra: Beno Blachut, Dalibor Jedlicka, Vladimir Krejcik
• Audio CD (June 17, 1991)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Box set
• 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: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000E4MF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #220,731 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #35 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > Czech

Track Listings

1. Act I- Prelude

2. Act I- Ach Je, Ach Boze!

3. Act I- Tati, Ta Marty Je Ohromna

4. Act I- Tady Prosim, Jenom Racte

5. Act I- Konecne! ... Dobre, Gregore!

6. Act I- Emilie! ... Pro Tebe Nejsem Emilie

7. Act I- Nasli Jsme! Nasil!

8. Act Ii- Videli Ty Kytice-

9. Act Ii- Janku, Pojd' Sem!

10. Act Ii- Dovolte, Dovolte, Prosim

11. Act Ii- Dalsi. Kdo Mi Co Chce-

12. Act Ii- Dovolte Mi Drive Otazku

13. Act Ii- Tos Ty, Bertiku-

14. Act Ii- To Jsi Ty, Bertiku-

15. Act Iii- Nu- Slysite-

16. Act Iii- Buenos Dias, Maxi!

17. Act Iii- Pecitko S Inicialkou

18. Act Iii- Pro Lekare!

19. Lachian Dances- Starodavny I

20. Lachian Dances- Dymak

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, July 29, 2003

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leos Janacek: Vec Makropulos (The Makropulos Case) / Lachian Dances (Audio CD)

This is fine recording of this rarely performed opera. Soderstrom specialized in Janacek and her performance is excellent. I think this opera contains some of Janacek's best music. In my experience, few are indifferent about Janacek; either its enthusiasm or disdain. For those who are enthusiastic, this recording is a fine investment.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE recording of this important opera, May 1, 2005

By 

David M. Wagner (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leos Janacek: Vec Makropulos (The Makropulos Case) / Lachian Dances (Audio CD)

Somatic immortality -- never-ending bodily life -- is not all it's cracked up to be. So learns Emilia Marty, an opera star dying in Prague in 1912. She was born Elina Makropulos, on Crete, in 1575, and became the victim of a life-extension experiment carried out by her father, a doctor, at the behest of his boss, Emperor Rudolph II.

Changing her name once a generation, but always with the initials E.M., and always beautiful, she has seduced countless men, broken countless hearts, and shriveled up inside. Having at last recovered her father's formula, she gives it up, saying to the mortals around her: "Fools, you are so blissful, just because you are going to die! You believe in humanity, in greatness, in love! There's nothing more you could wish for!" So she too finally dies, with the Greek version of the Our Father on her lips.

Elisabeth Soderstrom was one of the great sopranos of the 20th century. In her native Sweden she was one of those rare opera stars who becomes a pop culture heroine as well (not unlike Beverly Sills in the U.S.) Emilia Marty/Elina Makropulos was her favorite role. But she had a wide repertory, and also recorded most of the other major Janacek heroines, again under the baton of Sir Charles Mackerras, who did more than any other conductor to popularize Janacek outside of Czechoslovakia.

Learn this opera, and start with this recording.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Una de las mejores óperas de Janacek, February 15, 2004

By 

Gustavo Chagoya Galaz (Monclova, México) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leos Janacek: Vec Makropulos (The Makropulos Case) / Lachian Dances (Audio CD)

En esta maravillosa ópera, Leos Janacek mustra su lenguaje más duro y disonante concebido hasta entonces mostrando el camino hacia el que se dirigía al componer posteriormente Desde la casa de los Muertos. Como Kata Kavanova el Caso Makropulos esta lleno de profunda pasión, con alguna de la música más conmovedora que jamás escribió y alguna de la música más grande del siglo XX. Nuevamente encontramos la colaboración de la Filarmónica de Viena y de Sir Charles Mackerras, con una interpretación a la altura de las demás que han hecho de Janacek para Decca. Es una grabación remasterizada (fue lanzada en LP en 1979) pero con un sonido inconfundible de Decca. El preludio es maravilloso, una obra maestra de orquestación que nos da una introducción a la clase de música que vamos a escuchar a continuación. Elisabeth Soderstrom muestra nuevamente su afinidad a esta música, canta conmovedoramente y el resto de reparto es bastante sólido. Makropulos es la octava y penúltima ópera de Janacek, basada en una obra del escritor checo Karel Capek, producida en Praga de 1922, año en el que se desarrolla también la trama, contando la historia de una mujer llamada Elina Makropulos que cuenta con 337 años de edad, llamada a lo largo de su vida con diferentes nombres, todos iniciando con E. El "Caso" se refiere al secreto de su longevidad. En fin, a todos los interesados en la música de este gran compositor, esta ópera es altamente recomendable e indispensable en cualquier colección de Opera.