I was in the NYCO production of "The Cunning Little Vixen" when I was a kid, playing one of the little foxes. One of the highlights of my life.

Quite right Dave, a great series of Janacek opera recordings. It's a shame Sir Charles wasn't able to include "The Excursions of Mr Broucek" in the same series, as it's another brilliant and hugely inventive opera, which I saw Mackerras conduct at London's ENO in 1992 (sung using an English translation). It's a daft story, but who cares when Janacek's musical treatment of the tale is so uniquely effective.

As you said, this is not just an important project but a successful one, because the Janáček operas became part of the operatic canon (until then it was just Jenufa, and usually in German).

Along with Richard Strauss, Janacek was, for me, the finest opera composer of the 20th Century and Mackerras was his finest interpreter. I remember hearing Janacek for the first time in a record shop in Boston. It was Mackerras' early recording of the Sinfonietta - and I was hooked!

I have a DVD (on a label mostly devoted to live and broadcast performances of opera and of some ballet) of another charming opera by Janacek, "The Excursions of Mr. Broucek", about a rather goofy and somewhat exploitative urban landlord. It's very cute and whimsical.

Mackerras was born in my hometown of Schenectady, NY and the local orchestra likes to play non standard/obscure repertoire as a tribute to him. I don't have much in the way of Mackerras recordings but I will start collecting with this box.

Was lucky to attend the Met production of Katya Kabanova in 1989 with Mackerras conducting. The standout was Mackerras in' late style' showing a far more lyrical approach than in the renowned recording. The production was also stunningly beautiful (Robert Israel) and to this day I will never forgive the MO not filming it. The young lovers simple folk song set against the off stage tormented duet between the older couple brought me to tears and has lingered ever since in my memory of this sublime performance. It was however recorded for live broadcast at the time and must still exists in the Met archives. Mackerras was important to Australian audiences since he spent much of his time here as a visiting conductor in both orchestral and operatic performances. It warmed my heart to hear his glorious 'Katya' at the Met and consider it one of the great musical experiences of my life.

If you're ever inclined to give us more Conductor Ten Best Recordings, Mackerras would be a welcome place to start.

The notes by John Tyrrell to the original LPs(and then CDs) are in themselves also "mini-reference" works about the operas.

I'd like to nominate Hyperion's Complete Keyboard Music of William Byrd performed by Davitt Moroney to this series of videos. A significant project on a number of fronts.

Not sure if I remember this correctly (if anyone knows the source, pls let me know), but I seem to remember reading that Solti was actually the person who persuaded Decca to record the series. Apparently, he had taken an interest in the Janacek operas at the time and was thinking of recording them but he had other priorities at the time so he suggested Mackerras as the conductor for the series. So perhaps Solti is the person we should thank for this series happening in the first place.

I would also nominate Ronald Smith's recordings of Alkan's piano music to be on your "Most Important Recordings Ever" list. Along with Raymond Lewenthal, Smith is responsible for rescuing this incredible music from obscurity -- and he was the first to record the entire set of the 12 Studies in the Minor Keys ! Even if he didn't quite have the technical chops of later pianists, like Hamelin & co., he still dared to take on this monstrously difficult music to let us hear it for the first time (-- and what incredible, idiosyncratic, music it was ! -- and full of wry humour, too -- not something all that common among composers of the 19th -- or, for that matter -- any, century!). It was a daunting task, and for Smith, who did so much to promote Alkan's music, a real labour of love (he also wrote a fine book on Alkan and edited a wonderful collection of music for us not-so-technically proficient pianists, "Alkan in Miniature", that I still remember fondly today). Anyway -- just an idea ...

Janacek was amongst the very finest operas ever written and he is amongst he is close to being my fave opera composer....maybe Verdi and Wagner edge him. As you say, the music is astonishing, the sounds unlike any other composer. I urge anyone who hasn't sampled him to dive right in and why not start with the very best - Mackerras.

I am lucky in that I heard Sir Charles do Vixen & Katya at Covent Garden. He wasn't conducting the night i went to Makropulos at ENO, unfortunately. Let's not forget that Mackerras produced performing editions of all the operas.. That in itself is a legacy enough. With Colin Davis, best conductor I ever heard. I wish I went to more of his concerts, damn it!

I really like your new series, and if you ever need anymore material, here's a little known project (even in Québec): Alain Lefèvre on Analekta (and Warner for the most recent release in 2020) rescuing André Mathieu's compositions from complete obscurity. Since 2003 he has made several recordings of his Piano Concertos, including solo and 2 piano versions, chamber music and solo piano works. These are Romantic works in the same vein as Rachmaninoff, from a child prodigy that was ignored in his time (Québec in the 40s, 50s and early 60s was not a great place to live).

I wonder if promotion like this by a major artist will launch another obscure composer onto a similar level of popularity again. Mackerras was such a justly famous name. Janacek was such a striking yet accessible voice. The industry has changed so much. There have been and still are wonderful artists championing great but lesser known composers, but I was wondering if there are any current or very recent projects like these Mackerras/Janacek recordings that are having similar impact in boosting the popularity of a lesser known composer?

I was going to buy this, but I cannot find it on cd only download :(

YES!!!!

You're right with every word! But isn't it a pity that Mackerras never did "Mr Broucek"?

The Hurwitz Effect is real! Shortly after this video dropped, i saw the set used for about $60. i waited half a day, it went up to $90. And now it's $117. Heh, oops.

Hi Dave. Your knowledge of the origin of the word robot begs the question, are you a sci-fi fan?

From the House of the Dead is very depressing, but I like it!