Janáček: The Excursions of Mr Brouček album review – eccentric opera has sparkle and muscle
Jaroslav Březina is characterful in the title role for this new studio recording, heading an excellent cast and orchestra who know this music inside out
March 2024
Jenůfa review – Alden’s harrowing staging remains a formidable piece of theatre
Jennifer Davis in the title role and Susan Bullock as Kostelnička are both outstanding in Janáček’s unremittingly intense tale relocated to a drab industrial town in post-communist Europe
January 2023
Katya Kabanova review – Rattle and Majeski capture the rapture and chaos of Janáček’s turbulent love story
The LSO are on ravishing form, perfectly blending the lyricism and intensity of the score, while the whole cast deliver singing of the highest calibre
December 2022
Leonidas Kavakos/Yuja Wang review – shared detail and purpose
The two virtuosic soloists have a longstanding musical partnership that here produced a wonderful and generous evening of music by Brahms, Janáček and Schumann
February 2022
The Cunning Little Vixen review – colourful staging takes Janáček’s opera to the dark side
Anguish rather than sentiment is to the fore in Jamie Manton’s new production, with Sally Matthews and Pumeza Matshikiza a well-matched central pair
November 2021
The Cunning Little Vixen review – CBSO’s concert staging has care but misses vital charm
Elena Tsallagova was a feisty vixen and the CBSO’s playing under Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla was outstanding in a more matter-of-fact interpretation of Janáček’s opera than one normally hears
September 2021
Jenůfa review – Mattila is formidable in new Janaček staging
Claus Guth’s symbolism-heavy production is at its best when simplest. Asmik Grigorian and Karita Mattila are a strong pairing and conductor Henrik Nánási has the measure of the score
July 2021
The Cunning Little Vixen review – small scale but big impact for warm and witty staging
Janáček’s opera about the interconnectedness of humans and nature weaves its magic in Stephen Barlow’s new production, with Grant Doyle and Jennifer France both convincing leads
May 2021
Kát’a Kabanová review – festival opens with sideways rain and raw, stunning Janáček
The bleakness of the May weather suited this stark new production by Damiano Michieletto, which was superbly sung and exquisitely played by the LPO under Robin Ticciati
November 2020
Know the score
From Vivaldi to Vaughan Williams: more musical voices who have changed our world
Over the past few months, our Know the Score series introduced 20 great composers. But what of the many we couldn’t write about? Martin Kettle suggests some other names whose music is well worth exploring
July 2019
First night of the Proms review – the moon, and female stars
Zosha Di Castri’s evocative tribute to the Apollo moon landing led an opening night that, under the baton of Karina Canellakis, felt subtly like an upward leap
February 2019
Katya Kabanova: from a muse to a monstrous mother-in-law
Three separate productions of Janáček’s tragedy are in UK opera houses this season. What is it about this work that makes it resonate still in today’s world?
March 2018
The week in classical: From the House of the Dead; A Midsummer Night’s Dream – review
Royal Opera’s take on Janáček’s brutal work dazzles – plus a double helping of Titania, Bottom and friends
From the House of the Dead review – formidable performances humanise Janáček's vision of hell
If Krzysztof Warlikowski’s staging loses focus at points, outstanding performances and Mark Wigglesworth’s conducting ensure this is a compelling evening
From the House of the Dead shines a light into darkness
Janáček’s final opera is peopled with aggressive and unpleasant characters, but the beauty of its music speaks powerfully of the need for empathy and understanding, says the conductor of a new production
January 2017
BBCSO/Gardner review – a thrilling show of ferocity and feistiness
Edward Gardner dug deeper into Janáček, while violinist Tasmin Little explored the languid lyricism of Szymanowski
September 2016
Janáček: Orchestral Suites CD review – detail and richness
June 2016
The Cunning Little Vixen review – pulsing with life
Elena Tsallagova is magnetic as a vivacious Vixen Sharp-Ears in this sumptuous revival of Melly Still’s tenderly cartoonish production
March 2016
Janáček: Orchestral Works Vol 3 CD review – ablaze with excitement
Stellar soloists join Edward Gardner and Bergen’s massed ranks for Janáček at full throttle
December 2015
Janáček: Moravian Folk Songs CD review – clear, candid voices
The twisting modal tunes and jagged lyrics of Janáček’s Czech folk songs are rendered here with clarity without overstatement or excess glossiness
