  L.Janáček, Věc Makropulos, E.-P.Salonen / WPh & Vienna State Opera Chorus A.Denoke, R.Very, P.Hoare, J.Adamonytė, J.Reuter, et al. C Major Blu-ray / DVD     |
The 2011 Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival was in rare form, which paid dividends, too, in Janáček. Their Makropulous Case has sweep and drama and ferocious energy, sometimes sardonic wit, then chilling severity. (Review of the performance here: Notes from the 2011 Salzburg Festival ( 17 ) - Věc Makropulos Fantabulous) Salonen creates an arch from beginning to the harshly cackling, then Puccini-esque lyrical, brassy finale. Angela Denoke as Emilia Marty a.k.a. Elina Makropulos is outstanding in every way. Christoph Marthaler’s direction, Anna Viebrock’s sets, and the period costumes are full of apt ambiance (as if straight out of a Kafka play) and succeed in making Janáček’s magnificent music work on the audience in its direct way.
