Like Janacek? . . get the dvd of "FTHOTD" (Dostoevsky)

[barry guerrero]

Hi there,

If you like Janacek, get the new dvd of Janacek's last opera, "From The House Of The Dead", based on Dostoevsky's memoirs of being in prison. Boulez conducts the Gustav Mahler Chamber Orch., and Patrice Chereau is the producer (Boulez's Bayreauth Ring, Lulu). The acting, closely tutored by Cherau, is outsanding. The sound and picture are excellent; and, of course, there's Janacek's amazing orchestral score. If nothing else FTHOTD has one of the very greatest opera preludes ever. Highly recommended.

[Polarius T]

Yes, this should be something extraordinary. Non-Mackerras-made recordings of Janacek operas have been long overdue and especially the "discovery" of the great late works like this one and The Makropoulos Case by top contemporary (or "new-music") conductors has been inexplicable delayed. No longer set up for the visuals, I will therefore remain in a tremendous state of expectation, only hoping that an audio CD too will come out in due course (please, DG, please!). I'm really glad Boulez chose to did precisely this production, as it may well be his last opera gig (or at least so he threatens, due to rehearsal time constraints -- understandably he doesn't have too much extra time to spare any more). Thanks for pointing this out; Boulez in Janacek really piques my interest like very few things out there anymore. And this is a fantastic work, the odd one out among the milestones of Western music.

Polarius T

[barry guerrero]

If you're in London for the Proms, Boulez is doing an interesting all-Janacek concert there. I believe it's with the LSO, but am not sure of that. Anyway, it has "Sinfonietta"; "Glagolitic Mass", and something else (?).

[Polarius T]

If you're in London for the Proms, Boulez is doing an interesting all-Janacek concert there. I believe it's with the LSO, but am not sure of that. Anyway, it has "Sinfonietta"; "Glagolitic Mass", and something else (?).

One word: Wow.

If tickets are available it should be worth traveling there even from the moon.

PT