Search - Leos Janacek, Peter Breiner, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra :: Janácek: Orchestral Suites from the Operas, Vol. 2

Wow! -what fun! (I love this stuff)

B. Guerrero | 05/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love much of the music in both of these operas, and both of them possess superb preludes that get included here (great sleigh bells in the "Kat'a" prelude). sometimes it's just nice to pretend that Stokowski is still with us (Peter Breiner is our "Stoky" here), and listen to great operatic music in "symphonic synthesis" presentations, sans vocalists. In the case of Janacek, or most other Slavic operas, the tenor parts can be incredibly brutal. It's nice to give those tenors a night off now and then.



I don't really know these operas well enough to nit-pick with Breiner's decisions in forming his orchestral suites. All I can tell you is that I love Janacek's orchestral writing, and that this disc is a wonderful additional for anybody who feels the same way. The performances are both well executed and well recorded. At Naxos prices, it's a steal. Thank you Maestro Breiner."