Lukáš Vasilek & Prague Philharmonic Choir - Village Stories: Stravinsky, Janáček, Bartók (2023) [Digital Download 24/96]

Leoš Janáček and the generation younger Béla Bartók and Igor Stravinsky were major 20th-century composers markedly influenced by folk music, bringing it to bear in their own creations. Their works feature on the remarkable new album Village Stories of the world-renowned Prague Philharmonic Choir, led by Lukáš Vasilek. Stravinsky’s Les noces, Janáček’s Nursery Rhymes and Bartók’s Village Scenes are brought back to life on new recordings. Vasilek invited to the studio superb soloists, including the soprano Kateřina Kněžíková, the mezzo-soprano Jana Hrochová, the tenor Boris Stepanov and the baritone Jiří Brückler, as well as the outstanding pianists Zoltán Fejérvári and Kirill Gerstein, the Zemlinsky Quartet and the Belfiato Quintet. Supraphon will release the album on 27 October 2023 on CD and in digital formats.

The three challenging works featured on the album have been undertaken by the illustrious Prague Philharmonic Choir, led by Lukáš Vasilek, who on numerous occasions have displayed a great sense for performing music inspired by folk art. Village Stories links up to the highly acclaimed recording of Bohuslav Martinů’s cantatas (Gramophone Editor’s Choice, nomination for the BBC Music Magazine Award). Lukáš Vasilek said: “At the beginning, there was our intention to explore and perform Stravinsky’s Le noces. Subsequently, we sought similarly singular pieces, based on Slavic folk music. Janáček’s Nursery Rhymes was a clear choice, as it suits Stravinsky’s ballet-cantata perfectly, yet it took us some time to find the third composition. And it was only by chance that I came across Bartók’s Village Scenes, which I did not know at all. I think it was the right pick. I deem the combination of the three pieces excellent.”

Janáček and Bartók also keenly devoted to folklore as theoreticians. Stravinsky, for his part, was mesmerised by folk rituals. A case in point is Les noces, which in four choreographed scenes depicts Russian wedding customs, with most of the lyrics based on folk songs. Stravinsky significantly revised the instrumentation, before arriving at the definitive version. Janáček conceived his Nursery Rhymes at the age of 71, shortly after completing the opera The Makropulous Case. He too made changes to the instrumentation before attaining a satisfactory form. The second version of the set bears witness to Janáček’s being enthralled by Stravinsky’s music. The Village Scenes for female voices and chamber orchestra feature arrangements of folk tunes Bartók collected in and around Zvolen in Slovakia. He was evidently influenced by Stravinsky’s style as well. The chorus master and conductor Lukáš Vasilek pointed out: “All the three pieces are extremely difficult to perform, as well as rather delicate. What’s more, the instrumentation is quite bizarre. When it comes to the recording sessions, everyone involved manifested great enthusiasm – not only the singers and musicians, but also the recording director, sound engineers, editor and executive producer. All of us were well aware of the requirements the pieces placed on us, and duly prepared really meticulously.”

Tracklist:
01. Les Noces: I. La Tresse / At the Bride’s House (The Tresses)
02. Les Noces: II. Chez la marié / At the Bridegroom’s House
03. Les Noces: III. Le Départ de la mariée / The Bride’s Departure
04. Les Noces: IV. Le Repas de noces / The Wedding Feast
05. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: I. Introduction
06. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: II. Turnip’s Getting Married
07. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: III. Spring Grass Looks So Fresh and Pleasant
08. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: IV. A Black Mole´s Crawling by a Hedge
09. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: V. Noel Trotted off to Hell
10. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: VI. Shabby Tattered Pair of Tights
11. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: VII. Frankie Diddle Played the Fiddle
12. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: VIII. Our Dog
13. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: IX. Hearken, Hearken to My Words!
14. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: X. Old Hag Did Her Spells and Magic
15. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XI. Ho, Ho, Al’ Cows Go
16. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XII. Mah Guidwillie Bonny Lass
17. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XIII. Old Crone Crawls into the Brush
18. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XIV. Pears Are Gathered by a White Goat
19. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XV. No Good Kraut, up the Spout
20. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XVI. Goat is Lying in the Hay
21. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XVII. Rodney Podney Drums So Hard
22. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XVIII. Frankie Lad
23. Nursery Rhymes, JW V/17: XIX. A Black Bear’s Bobbing on a Big Bough
24. Three Village Scenes, BB 87b: I. Wedding
25. Three Village Scenes, BB 87b: II. Lullaby
26. Three Village Scenes, BB 87b: III. Lad’s Dance


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