Janacek: The Excursions of Mr. Broucek (In English) - Haywood, Dempsey, Smith, Kale, Drake; Mackerras. London, 1977
$8.95
 - Haywood, Dempsey, Smith, Kale, Drake; Mackerras. London, 1977 "Pin It")
Listen to a Sample:
Although there is an element of the bizarre/absurd in every one of Janaceks' Operas, The Excursions of Mr Broucek to the Moon and the 15th Century is by far the most out there (the title says it all.) But don't be scared away, because this opera reveals that it is more than an absurdist exercise and amidst the insanity the opera does reveal its own brand of humanity. This performance was among Charles Mackerras's survey of Leos Janacek and boasts the excellent British soprano, Lorna Haywood, as Malinka, Etherea and Kunka. Haywood is a natural actress and apparently a very good sport (apparently she had to sing a good portion of the role suspended from wires.) Although the opera as a whole lacks the lyricism of Jenufa it makes up for it in orchestral inventiveness as well as some beautifully delicate sonorities. The sound is very good.
OD 10956-2
