Various Artists - Janacek: Chamber Music & Orchestral Works (5 CDs, 2004)

This may not need to be the only Janácek set on the shelf, but it is surely a good place to start a Janácek collection. Outside of the operas, all Janácek's core works are here as well as a few oddballs. But for the core works, the performances in this set are as good or better than any other non-Czech performance. Paul Crossley's performances of the piano works are startlingly expressionistic and completely convincing. The Gabrieli String Quartet's performances of the string quartets are stunningly erotic and absolutely persuasive. And, of course, Charles Mackerras and the Vienna Philharmonic's performances of the Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba are staggeringly dramatic and utterly compelling. Even in the oddball works like the Nursery Rhymes and Youth, the predominantly English performers are credible enough. Neville Marriner's recording of the Suite for strings is in the same ineffable league as Mackerras and only Riccardo Chailly's Glagolic Mass is distinctly substandard. While a truly representative Janácek shelf would include at least four of the operas, plus recordings of the core works by Czech performers, this Decca set is well worth hearing. With recordings as old as 1970 and as recent as 1997, Decca's sound is uniformly clear and warm.

Tracklist
Disc: 1
1. On the Overgrown Path (Po zarostlém chodnícku), for piano, JW 8/17: First Series. 6. Words fail!: Andante
2. On the Overgrown Path (Po zarostlém chodnícku), for piano, JW 8/17: First Series. 7. Goodnight!: Andante
3. On the Overgrown Path (Po zarostlém chodnícku), for piano, JW 8/17: First Series. 8. Unutterable anguish: Andante
4. On the Overgrown Path (Po zarostlém chodnícku), for piano, JW 8/17: First Series. 9. In tears: Larghetto
5. Theme and variations for piano in B flat major ('Zdenciny variace,' 'Zdenka Variations'), JW 8/6

Disc: 2
1. String Quartet No. 1 ('Kreutzer Sonata'), JW 7/8: I. Adagio - Con moto
2. String Quartet No. 1 ('Kreutzer Sonata'), JW 7/8: II. Con moto
3. String Quartet No. 1 ('Kreutzer Sonata'), JW 7/8: III. Con moto
4. String Quartet No. 1 ('Kreutzer Sonata'), JW 7/8: IV. Con moto - Adagio
5. Sonata for violin & piano, JW 7/7: I. Con moto
6. Sonata for violin & piano, JW 7/7: II. Ballada: Con moto
7. Sonata for violin & piano, JW 7/7: III. Allegretto
8. Sonata for violin & piano, JW 7/7: IV. Adagio
9. Dumka, for violin & piano, JW 7/4
10. Romance, for violin & piano in E major, JW 7/3

Disc: 3
1. Capriccio for piano (left hand), flute & brass ensemble ('Vzdor,' 'Defiance'), JW 7/12: I. Allegro
2. Capriccio for piano (left hand), flute & brass ensemble ('Vzdor,' 'Defiance'), JW 7/12: II. Adagio
3. Capriccio for piano (left hand), flute & brass ensemble ('Vzdor,' 'Defiance'), JW 7/12: III. Allegretto
4. Capriccio for piano (left hand), flute & brass ensemble ('Vzdor,' 'Defiance'), JW 7/12: IV. Andante
5. Concertino for piano, 2 violins, viola, clarinet, horn & bassoon, JW 7/11: I. Moderato
6. Concertino for piano, 2 violins, viola, clarinet, horn & bassoon, JW 7/11: III. Con moto
7. Concertino for piano, 2 violins, viola, clarinet, horn & bassoon, JW 7/11: IV. Allegro
8. Presto for cello & piano, JW 7/6

Disc: 4
1. Sinfonietta for orchestra ('Military,' 'Sokol Festival'), JW 6/18: I. Allegretto
2. Sinfonietta for orchestra ('Military,' 'Sokol Festival'), JW 6/18: II. Andante
3. Sinfonietta for orchestra ('Military,' 'Sokol Festival'), JW 6/18: III. Moderato
4. Sinfonietta for orchestra ('Military,' 'Sokol Festival'), JW 6/18: IV. Allegretto
5. Sinfonietta for orchestra ('Military,' 'Sokol Festival'), JW 6/18: V. Andante con moto
6. Taras Bulba, rhapsody for orchestra, JW 6/15: I. The Death of Andrij
7. Taras Bulba, rhapsody for orchestra, JW 6/15: II. The Death of Ostap
8. Taras Bulba, rhapsody for orchestra, JW 6/15: III. The Prophesy and Death of Taras Bulba
9. Lachian (Lasské) Dances (6) for orchestra, JW 6/17: VI. Pílky

Disc: 5
1. Suite for string orchestra, JW 6/2: I. Moderato
2. Suite for string orchestra, JW 6/2: II. Adagio
3. Suite for string orchestra, JW 6/2: III. Andante con moto
4. Suite for string orchestra, JW 6/2: IV. Presto - Andante - Presto
5. Suite for string orchestra, JW 6/2: V. Adagio
6. Suite for string orchestra, JW 6/2: VI. Andante
7. Mass (Msa glagolskaja) for soloists, double chorus, orchestra & organ ('Glagolitic Mass'), JW 3/9: Gospodi pomiluj (Kyrie)
8. Mass (Msa glagolskaja) for soloists, double chorus, orchestra & organ ('Glagolitic Mass'), JW 3/9: Slava (Gloria)
9. Mass (Msa glagolskaja) for soloists, double chorus, orchestra & organ ('Glagolitic Mass'), JW 3/9: Veruju (Credo)
10. Mass (Msa glagolskaja) for soloists, double chorus, orchestra & organ ('Glagolitic Mass'), JW 3/9: Svet (Sanctus)
11. Mass (Msa glagolskaja) for soloists, double chorus, orchestra & organ ('Glagolitic Mass'), JW 3/9: Agnece Bozij (Agnus Dei)
12. Mass (Msa glagolskaja) for soloists, double chorus, orchestra & organ ('Glagolitic Mass'), JW 3/9: Organ Solo: Allegro
13. Mass (Msa glagolskaja) for soloists, double chorus, orchestra & organ ('Glagolitic Mass'), JW 3/9: Intrada