Janácek: The Excursions of Mr. Broucek (2-CD)

Composer: Leoš Janácek
Artists: Jaroslav Brezina, Aleš Briscein, František Zahradnícek, Alžbeta Polácková, Jirí Sulženko, Prague National Theatre Chorus & Orchestra
Conductor: Jaroslav Kyzlink
Number of Discs: 2
Label: Supraphon
Release Date: August 16, 2024

In April 1920, following 12 years of intricate work, Leoš Janácek’s The Excursions of Mr. Broucek premiered at the National Theatre in Prague, the one and only work of his to do so. A century later, the same theatre’s soloists, chorus and orchestra returned to the “Broucekiad” at the Rudolfinum in Prague. The present studio recording was thus in part made owing to the closure of theatres and concert halls during the recent Covid pandemic. 

Janácek dedicated The Excursions of Mr. Broucek to T. G. Masaryk, the first President of the newly founded Czechoslovak Republic. Declining to celebrate the two nations’ acquired freedom and statehood by foregrounding Saint Wenceslas, Charles IV or another great figure of Czech history, the composer chose as the protagonist of his “national” opera one Mr. Broucek, a narrow-minded oaf, coward, hypocrite, liar, boor and drunkard. A man overly fond of food and beer, possessing a simplistic worldview, suspicious of everything different and unaccustomed, loathing artists and intellectuals. As Janácek himself put it: “Broucek embodies our pettiness; made for stage.” 

One hundred years later, this picture of the “ordinary Czech” is still befitting, worthy of exposing. The new album features Jaroslav Brezina, brilliantly portraying the lead character, and other distinguished Czech singers, under the seasoned conductor Jaroslav Kyzlink.

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