Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Jaroslav Kyzlink - Janáček: The Excursions of Mr. Brouček (2024) [Digital Download 24/48]

In April 1920, following 12 years of intricate work, Leoš Janáček’s The Excursions of Mr. Brouček premiered at the National Theatre in Prague, the one and only work of his to do so. A century later, the self-same theatre’s soloists, chorus and orchestra returned to the “Broučekiad” at the Rudolfinum in Prague. The present studio recording, after Neumann’s and Jílek’s only the third in the Supraphon catalogue, was thus in part made owing to the closure of theatres and concert halls during the recent Covid pandemic.

Janáček dedicated The Excursions of Mr. Brouček to T. G. Masaryk, the first President of the newly founded Czechoslovak Republic. Declining to celebrate the two nations’ acquired freedom and statehood by foregrounding Saint Wenceslas, Charles IV or another great figure of Czech history, the composer chose as the protagonist of his “national” opera one Mr. Brouček, a narrow-minded oaf, coward, hypocrite, liar, boor and drunkard. A man overly fond of food and beer, possessing a simplistic worldview, suspicious of everything different and unaccustomed, loathing artists and intellectuals. In The Excursion of Mr. Brouček to the Moon, his crassness clashes with the Moonlings’ aesthetic, highbrow affectation, while in The Excursion of Mr. Brouček to the Fifteenth Century his unflinching self-centeredness, servility and mendacity contrast starkly with the ideals of the uncompromising Hussite warriors, fighting for “God’s truth”. As Janáček himself put it: “Brouček embodies our pettiness; made for stage.” One hundred years down the road, this picture of the “ordinary Czech” is still befitting, worthy of exposing. The new album features Jaroslav Březina, brilliantly portraying the lead character, and other distinguished Czech singers, under the seasoned conductor Jaroslav Kyzlink.

A significant role in enhancing the recording’s quality is played by spatial feeling of the recording process itself as well as by the Dvořák Hall’s splendid acoustics and colourful sound. By releasing the album, the National Theatre in Prague commemorates the 170th anniversary of the birth of Leoš Janáček, the most globally renowned of Czech opera composers.

Janáček’s “Mr. Brouček” on a new recording – still up-to-date after one hundred years.

Tracklist:
01. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7: "Introduction"
02. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "Can One Believe Men" (Málinka, Mazal, Sacristan, Brouček, Würfl)
03. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "Love, Yes, Love´s Charming Flower" (Young waiter, Composer, Poet, Painter, Málinka, Sacristan, Würfl)
04. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "Málinka! I´ve a Diamond" (Mazal, Málinka, Composer, Poet, Painter, Young waiter, Brouček)
05. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "Ha! Ha! What Monster Does Frigtten My Astonished Eye!" (Azurean, Brouček)
06. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "You Have Never yet Known Love" (Azurean, Brouček, Lunigrove, Etherea)
07. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "Fright Now Spreads from You Just like from Medusa!" (Etherea, Lunigrove, Azurean, Brouček)
08. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "This Meloda, Yes Indeed, but on the Bombardon!" (Wonderglitter, Harper, Etherea, Brouček, Lunigrove, Azurean, Cloudy)
09. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Dance - You Clown, You! - You, Titan of Songs!" (Brouček, Glorious Rainbow, Harper, Wonderglitter, Child prodigy)
10. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "O Sweet Creature, You!" (Etherea, Wonderglitter, Brouček, Cloudy, Lunigrove, Child prodigy, Azurean)
11. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Come Here!" (Glorious Rainbow, Brouček, Child prodigy, Wonderglitter)
12. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "You´re Dearer to Me" (Etherea, Brouček, Azurean, Lunigrove, Harper, Child prodigy)
13. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Interlude"
14. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "With Lasting Laurels I Adorn Your Curls" (Composer, Würfl, Mazal, Málinka, Young waiter)
15. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "There Were Deep Undergreound Passages" (Professor’s voice, Another voice, Brouček, Würfl)
16. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "Help! Help!" (Brouček)
17. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "O, You Sun of That Great Day" (Svatopluk Čech)
18. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "We Must Remember Well This Newly Found Short-Cut!" (Brouček, Councillor)
19. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act I: "The Day of the Lord Begins!" (Domšík, Councillor, Brouček)
20. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Introduction - If I Weren´t Sitting Here" (Brouček, Domšík, Kedruta)
21. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Here They Come from Church Service" (Domšík, Kunka, Brouček, Vacek, Miroslav, Vojta)
22. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Alas, the Name of Czechs Has Been Dragged" (Miroslav, Vojta, Student, Vacek, Domšík, Brouček, Kunka, Petřík)
23. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Hurrah, Tábor!" (Kunka, Kedruta, Brouček)
24. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Change of Scene - Hejsasa! Hejsasa!" (Petřík)
25. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Look, One Is Crouching Here!" (First Taborite, Second Taborite, Brouček, Petřík, Councillor, Kunka)
26. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "He Too Went with Us" (Petřík, Vojta, Councillor, Brouček, Vacek, Kedruta)
27. The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, JWI/7, Act II: "Change of Scene - Ah! Ah! Ah!" (Brouček, Würfl)


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