Janáček in Great Britain – 2008 Study Weekend Programme
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Janáček with Sir Henry Wood
Dvořák Society member, Graham Melville-Mason, was the tutor at a study weekend held at Burton Manor, North West England, from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September 2008. The title of the course was: Janáček In Great Britain.
It was eighty years since the death of the Moravian composer Leoš Janáček and in that time he had emerged from being an unknown name and voice to become a popular choice of composer in our concert halls and opera houses: from the initial championing of Rosa Newmarch and Sir Henry Wood to an acceptance of this music by so many artists into their repertoire.
The study weekend examined this transformation — through his opera, orchestral and chamber music — and considered why this unique composer from middle Europe spoke so effectively and receptively to British listeners.
Through a series of illustrated lectures and discussion, students gained an insight on the rise in popularity of Janáček’s music in Great Britain from c1918 to the present day. There was an examination of the works of Janáček and the artists performing them, contributing to their success in Britain. No previous knowledge was required, just an interest in the music. The course programme was as follows —
Friday 12 September
5.30pm - 6.30pm | Arrival and Registration
6.45pm | Dinner
8.00pm - 9.30pm | The place of Great Britain in the growing international awareness of JanáčekSaturday 13 June
8.30am | Breakfast (Residential Students only)
9.30am | Rosa Newmarch – formidable protagonist and devoted champion
11.00am Coffee
11.15am - 12.45pm | Early British conductors of Janáček’s music
1.00pm | Lunch
2.00pm | Janáček’s London visit of 1926
3.45pm | Tea
4.15pm - 6.00pm | Quartets and chamber music
6.45pm | Dinner
8.00pm - 9.30pm | First opera performances and productions in EnglandSunday 14 June
8.30am | Breakfast (Residential Students only)
9.30am | Enter Scotland and Wales
11.00am | Coffee
11.15am - 12.45pm | Today Janáček the ‘popular’ composer
1.00pm | Lunch after which course disperses
