Leos Janáček

Leos Janacek wrote only two works for cello and piano, of which only Pohadka (Fairy Tale) became established in the concert repertoire. Although he completed the work, the composer did not want to have it published. The history of the work's composition is long and complicated. Janacek began writing the work before 1910, however, the Pohadka (Fairy Tale) only received its final form after a series of corrections in 1923. The second composition, the Presto, is incomplete. Only a sketch exists which Janacek did not develop further. The original tempo marking of Allegro was changed by Janacek himself to Presto. The work has been discussed under this title in recent Janacek literature. In the supplement of this edition an early version of A Tale is included. The source to this version is a copy owned by Antonin Vana , one of the first interpreters of the composition. The early version of A Tale offers a valuable and interesting alternative to today's known version with its marked differences such as the considerably changed ending of the first movement and the original form of four movements. Includes a detailed new foreword by Jiri Zahradka (Czech, English, German) - Publisher.

Responding to the ever-increasing popularity and international performances of operas by the Czech composer Leoš Janácek, this collection, meet the needs of English-speaking singers, conductors, coaches, and stage directors and conveniently provides idiomatic and word-for-word translations, including translations of stage and musical directions. In addition, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is used to indicate Czech pronunciation, following the clearly-presented method given in the author's book Singing in Czech : A Guide to Czech Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire, with a foreword by Sir Charles Mackerras. Cheek also provides practical notes about Janácek's style, both in general terms and specific issues relating to this opera along with a plot summary with translations and vocal ranges of characters and the pronunciation of their names. The first volume is the full translation of The Cunning Little Vixen in English alongside the original Czech. The second volume on Kát'a Kabanová, will help make productions in the original Czech much easier a task than ever before.