Vlety pana Brouka – 2 CD

This recording presents Leo Janeks opera The Excursions of Mr. Brouek, performed by the soloists, chorus and orchestra of the National Theatre in Prague under conductor Jaroslav Kyzlink. A century after the operas premiere, the same theatre returned to Janeks work in a new studio recording made in the Rudolfinums Dvok Hall. Dedicated by the composer to T. G. Masaryk, the opera places an ordinary, narrow-minded, cowardly, hypocritical, boastful and drunken Prague citizen at its centre rather than a celebrated figure from Czech history. In The Excursion to the Moon, Mr. Broueks dull provincialism contrasts with the aesthetic and intellectual excesses of the moons inhabitants. In The Excursion to the Fifteenth Century, his egotism, opportunism and dishonesty are set against the ideals of uncompromising Hussite warriors fighting for Gods truth. Janeks portrait of an ordinary Czech remains topical even after a century, while this performance is led by Jaroslav Bezina alongside other leading Czech singers and features the spacious acoustics and colourful sound of the Rudolfinum.