Essential Janáček

Alongside Dvořák and Smetana, Leoš Janáček (1854 – 1928) is one of the greatest Czech composers as well as the creator of some of the most striking and memorable music of the early 20th-century. For much of his life, though, he worked primarily in the local music scene in Moravia – as teacher, organist and choral conductor – studying briefly in Leipzig and Vienna and composing for chorus and collecting folk songs before his first attempts at opera. His major breakthrough, however, came with Jenůfa, for which he developed a new method of word setting closely rooted to the contours of the Czech language, with a musical style immediately recognisable for its angular lyricism, strikingly elemental orchestration and emotional directness.