The Masterpiece of Janacek

[dulcinea]

Which are the best recordings of the Glagolitic Mass?

[John F]

There are two recordings by Mackerras, at least one of them with a new and better edition of the music. That one is by the Danish Radio, but I haven't heard it; his Supraphon recording with the Czech Philharmonic is my choice.

[Donaldopato]

The Danish Mackerras is interesting for its use of an edition that goes back to Janacek's original. It has the "Intrada" opening and closing the piece, which symbolizes the processional and recessional of the priests. Great performance too. The Czech performance on Supraphon is fabulous, but I really like the version of the Danish performance.

[josé echenique]

Besides the excellent Mackerras recordings I also like Eliahu Inbal with a unsurpassed Julia Varady leading the soloists. The old Kubelik recording is also good, but now sounds it´s age.

[maestrob]

It doesn't get more authentic than this one:



I'm also partial to Bernstein (my first exposure) and Mackerras:

[John F]

At least as authentic would be the earliest recording, by Ancerl's elder colleague Bretislav Bakala, which I see is available on CD. Not only a Janacek pupil but a Janacek specialist as Ancerl was not, he was closer to the source. "More authentic" doesn't necessarily mean "better," of course, but if authenticity is an issue, here it is. The organ is particularly important in this piece, and there's nothing on records like the extraordinary playing of Bakala's organist Frantisek Michalek.

[THEHORN]

I got to know this unique masterpiece from the Kubelik recording on DG with the Bavarian Radio orchestra and chorus
back in the LP era. It's a terrifically exciting and gutsy performance , and it has been issued on CD, although I don't know if it's still available. Check arkivmusic.com, which is the best place for hard to find classical CDs by far.
I recommend it highly, and unlike the LP, it's coupled with more Janacek, I don't remember what.

[bricon]

I almost always recommend a Mackerras recording as a top choice (or near so) when it comes to Janáček – except with the Glagolitic Mass.

The recording that I return to most often (I have over a dozen including all of the previously mentioned ones) is this one:




Tilson Thomas leads the LSO in a thrilling performance – this is one wild ride.