> > [answering Andrew Stiller] > > >> And BTW, it's not up to you to decide whether J's music is very good > >> or not. On that point, the verdict of history is in, long since. > > > > Umm, what IS history's verdict on Janacek's music? I really like it, > > but I'm not sure that counts for much. 8-) > > I'm not sure I share Andrew's faith in the permanence of history's > verdict. For about 30 years Janacek was an obscure nobody. Then some > time in the 1970s Mackerras championed him, and for the last 30 years > he's been considered great. Maybe that will stick, or maybe it will > turn back. Opera composers go in and out of fashion. > > mdl >
I think you're overstating the case somewhat. It is true that at the time of his death in 1928, Janacek's reputation was far greater inside what was then Czechoslovakia than outside it. But after WWII his instrumental music became much better known around the world, and of course now his operas are considered among the most important of the 20th century. Szell's first recording on Columbia with the Cleveland Orchestra was a pairing of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and Janacek's Sinfonietta, in 1965. Mackerras was hardly as responsible for singlehandedly resurrecting Janacek as you suggest. -Lee _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
