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SOMM Recordings

Leos Janacek: The Makropulos Affair; The Diary of One Who Di

$37.99

Details

Composer
Leos Janacek
Artist
Marie Collier, Gregory Dempsey, Raimund Herincx, Erich Shilling, Chorus and Orchestra of Sadler's We
Format
CD
Label
SOMM Recordings
Released
Nov 21, 2025
Catalog #
ARIADNE 5044-2
UPC
758871504423

About

In November 2025, SOMM pays special tribute to the centenary of Sir Charles Mackerras (1925 - 2010) who was, amongst other stellar achievements, an outstanding interpreter of the music of Czech composer Leos Janacek (1854 - 1928). At the age of 25, and over the next six decades, Mackerras introduced generations of London opera-goers to Janacek's extraordinary masterpieces, and he was directly responsible for these works becoming established in the British operatic repertoire. Our centenary tribute features the release of a remastered broadcast, from 1964, of Mackerras's first London production of the opera The Makropulos Affair. Also included is Janacek's quasi-operatic song cycle, The Diary of One who Disappeared. Audio restoration is by Lani Spahr, whose previous restorations for SOMM of works by Elgar, Bruckner, Holst, and Bliss have recently received no less than three Gramophone Editor's Choices. Shortly after Mackerras arrived in the UK from Australia in 1947, a British Council Scholarship enabled him to study conducting with Vaclav Talich at the Prague Academy of Music, during which time he discovered Czech music and Janacek in particular. His breakthrough in introducing Janacek's unfamiliar music to British audiences came in February 1964, when he conducted The Makropulos Affair at Sadler's Wells. This release is an exciting, highly-charged souvenir of that first London production. The title of the opera, inspired by Karel Capek's 1922 play, refers to a century-old probate case, which holds the key to the formula for a life-extending elixir. The coolly enigmatic opera diva Emilia Marty shows great interest in the case, and is revealed to be Elina Makropulos, a woman from Crete, who has lived for 337 years. This recording features the Australian dramatic soprano Marie Collier, an outstanding exponent of the role. The vocal writing in the opera is predominantly conversational, underpinned by an orchestral score that is both uncompromisingly modern and evocative of ancient times. The lead characters in two of Janacek's operas Kata in Katya Kabanova and Emilia Marty in The Makropulos Affair were inspired by Kamila Stosslova with whom he fell deeply in love, despite their both being married and he being almost forty years her senior. The earliest work to be inspired by Kamila was The Diary of One who Disappeared, begun the month after Janacek met her in 1917. This unorthodox song cycle for tenor, contralto, female voices, and piano was inspired by a diary-in-poems about a village boy who falls in love with the gipsy girl Žofka. Janacek wrote to Kamila, "All through the work I thought of you! You were my Žofka." This 1956 recording features Bernard Keeffe's English translation with Richard Lewis, tenor, Maureen Forrester, contralto, women from the BBC Singers, and pianist Ernest Lush.

Tracklist 44 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Act I: Prelude 05:30
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: Prelude
    Duration
    05:30
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  3. 2 Act I: Oh dear, my goodness! (Vitek, Gregor) 05:44
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I: Oh dear, my goodness! (Vitek, Gregor)
    Duration
    05:44
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Stanley Bevan, Gregory Dempsey
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  4. 3 Act I: Come this way please (Kolenaty, Kristina, Marty, Gregor) 07:36
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I: Come this way please (Kolenaty, Kristina, Marty, Gregor)
    Duration
    07:36
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gregory Dempsey, Eric Shilling, Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  5. 4 Act I: Yes. Just what do you require? (Marty) 03:55
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I: Yes. Just what do you require? (Marty)
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  6. 5 Act I: Gone at last! (Gregor, Marty) 10:21
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I: Gone at last! (Gregor, Marty)
    Duration
    10:21
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gregory Dempsey, Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  7. 6 Act I: Found it! We've found it (Kolenaty, Marty, Gregor, Prus) 03:00
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I: Found it! We've found it (Kolenaty, Marty, Gregor, Prus)
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gregory Dempsey, Eric Shilling, Marie Collier, Raimund Herincx
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  8. 7 Act II: Did you ever see such flowers? (Cleaner, Stage Hand, Prus) 02:18
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II: Did you ever see such flowers? (Cleaner, Stage Hand, Prus)
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Raimund Herincx
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  9. 8 Act II: Janek, come on. No one here will see us (Kristina, Janek, Prus, Marty, Gregor, Vitek) 02:51
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II: Janek, come on. No one here will see us (Kristina, Janek, Prus, Marty, Gregor, Vitek)
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Stanley Bevan, Gregory Dempsey, Marie Collier, Raimund Herincx, John Chorley
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  10. 9 Act II: Father! (Janek) 04:20
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II: Father! (Janek)
    Duration
    04:20
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    John Chorley
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  11. 10 Act II: Miss Marty, may I … (Hauk-Šendorf) 04:04
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II: Miss Marty, may I … (Hauk-Šendorf)
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier, Cragg Sinkinson
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  12. 11 Act II: And the next! Is that the lot? (Marty) 08:20
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II: And the next! Is that the lot? (Marty)
    Duration
    08:20
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  13. 12 Act II: Is that you, Gregor? (Marty) 05:47
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II: Is that you, Gregor? (Marty)
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  14. 13 Act II: Is that you, Gregor? - No, only me, only Janek (Marty, Gregor) 04:07
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II: Is that you, Gregor? - No, only me, only Janek (Marty, Gregor)
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gregory Dempsey, Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  15. Disc 2
  16. 1 Act III: Well? D'you hear me? (Marty, Prus, Chambermaid) 02:18
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act III: Well? D'you hear me? (Marty, Prus, Chambermaid)
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier, Raimund Herincx
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  17. 2 Act III: Who's that? (Marty) 03:24
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III: Who's that? (Marty)
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  18. 3 Act III: Buenos dias Maxi! Why so early? (Marty, hauk, Chambermaid, Kolenaty, Gregor) 01:50
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III: Buenos dias Maxi! Why so early? (Marty, hauk, Chambermaid, Kolenaty, Gregor)
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Eric Shilling, Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  19. 4 Act III: Do you want to question me? (Marty) 01:53
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act III: Do you want to question me? (Marty)
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  20. 5 Act III: The seal and th'initials E.M. (Gregor, Vitek, Kolenaty, Prus, Marty, Kristina) 02:47
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act III: The seal and th'initials E.M. (Gregor, Vitek, Kolenaty, Prus, Marty, Kristina)
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Stanley Bevan, Gregory Dempsey, Eric Shilling, Marie Collier, Raimund Herincx
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  21. 6 Act III: Will you tell us your real name? (Prus) 08:27
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III: Will you tell us your real name? (Prus)
    Duration
    08:27
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Raimund Herincx
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  22. 7 Act III: Feel my hands, Gregor (Marty) 03:00
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III: Feel my hands, Gregor (Marty)
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gregory Dempsey, Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  23. 8 Act III: Now I am sure that death laid his hand on me (Marty) 07:51
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III: Now I am sure that death laid his hand on me (Marty)
    Duration
    07:51
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Marie Collier
    Ensemble
    Sadler Wells Orchestra
    Conductor
    Charles Mackerras
  24. 9 Radio Announcement 01:05
    Track
    9
    Title
    Radio Announcement
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Anonymous
  25. 10 No. 1. One day I met a Gypsy girl 01:09
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 1. One day I met a Gypsy girl
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  26. 11 No. 2. That black-eyed Gypsy has haunted my all the day 01:14
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 2. That black-eyed Gypsy has haunted my all the day
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  27. 12 No. 3. Through the twilight glow-worms dance 01:45
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 3. Through the twilight glow-worms dance
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  28. 13 No. 4. Already swallows are twittering overhead 00:53
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 4. Already swallows are twittering overhead
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  29. 14 No. 5. Weary work is ploughing 00:51
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 5. Weary work is ploughing
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  30. 15 No. 6. Hey there, my tawny oxen 01:42
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 6. Hey there, my tawny oxen
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  31. 16 No. 7. I've got a loose axle 00:49
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 7. I've got a loose axle
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  32. 17 No. 8. Don't look, my oxen, so sad at my change of heart 01:05
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 8. Don't look, my oxen, so sad at my change of heart
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  33. 18 No. 9. Welcome my handsome one 02:35
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 9. Welcome my handsome one
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  34. 19 No. 10. God all powerful, God eternal 04:03
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 10. God all powerful, God eternal
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  35. 20 No. 11. From the ripening cornfield, oh, what sweet odours creep 03:14
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 11. From the ripening cornfield, oh, what sweet odours creep
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  36. 21 No. 12. Forest's shady height 00:57
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 12. Forest's shady height
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  37. 22 No. 13. Intermezzo. Andante 03:01
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 13. Intermezzo. Andante
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Ernest Lush
  38. 23 No. 14. See how high the sun is! 01:16
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 14. See how high the sun is!
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  39. 24 No. 15. Now, my tawny oxen, why do you stare at me? 01:01
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 15. Now, my tawny oxen, why do you stare at me?
    Duration
    01:01
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  40. 25 No. 16. What has come over me? What is it that I have done? 01:18
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 16. What has come over me? What is it that I have done?
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  41. 26 No. 17. Who can escape his fate, for what must be, must be 01:33
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 17. Who can escape his fate, for what must be, must be
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  42. 27 No. 18. Nothing matters now until evening shadows fall 01:18
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 18. Nothing matters now until evening shadows fall
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  43. 28 No. 19. See that thieving magpie suddenly fly away! 01:21
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 19. See that thieving magpie suddenly fly away!
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  44. 29 No. 20. Now she bears my child 00:46
    Track
    29
    Title
    No. 20. Now she bears my child
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  45. 30 No. 21. Father, how wrong you were 01:07
    Track
    30
    Title
    No. 21. Father, how wrong you were
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush
  46. 31 No. 22. Then Farewell, dearest land 02:47
    Track
    31
    Title
    No. 22. Then Farewell, dearest land
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Richard Lewis, Maureen Forrester, Ernest Lush