Final Year
Donald Macleod focuses on the final year of Janacek's life, when he wrote two of his most popular works: his passionate second string quartet and the Sinfonietta.
In the final year of his life, Janácek's love for Kamila Stösslova became ever more obsessive. He wrote letters to Kamila almost every day, and sometimes twice a day. The intense passion he felt for her found its culminating expression in his 2nd String Quartet. Donald Macleod introduces this most personal of his works, together with another of Janácek's best-loved pieces, prompted by the brilliant fanfares of a military band.
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Music Played
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Leos Janáček
Vzpominka [Reminiscence] for piano
Performer: Rudolf Firkušný.- DG449 764-2.
- DG.
- 17.
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Leos Janáček
From the house of the dead [Z mrtveho domu] - Overture
Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.- DECCA : 430-375-2.
- DECCA.
- 1.
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Leos Janáček
Quartet no. 2 (Intimate letters) for strings
Performer: Emerson String Quartet.- DG : 477-8093.
- DG.
- 8.
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Leos Janáček
Sinfonietta
Conductor: Rafael Kubelík. Orchestra: Bavarian R S O.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP : 437 254 2-.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP.
- 5.
Broadcasts
- Fri 25 Jul 201412:00BBC Radio 3
- Fri 25 Jul 201418:30BBC Radio 3
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