If this collection had been issued by one of the so-called 'major' record companies, it would doubtless have been called something like The Ultimate Janácek. Supraphon being unencumbered with whizzy marketing types, they have simply called it Sir Charles Mackerras conducts Janácek, being a double album containing all of the Czech master's significant orchestral music. Sir Charles's name will forever be linked with the music of Janácek. His scholarship has resulted in Urtext editions of several of the operas, while his series of recordings for Decca are likely to remain the benchmark versions for many years to come. His new recording of the Sinfonietta is his third, having previously recorded it with the Vienna Philharmonic and with a pick-up orchestra in London (superbly transferred on a recent Testament CD). The fires burn just as fiercely as before; at fractionally faster tempi than either of his previous versions, he misses no opportunity to punch home this astonishing, brazen music. Schluck und Jau, Janácek's last orchestral work, is a notable addition to Sir Charles's discography, while his revision of the Cunning Little Vixen Suite (using Janácek's original orchestration) is sheer bliss in the hands of the Czech Philharmonic. The majority of the selections here were recorded live; the huge weight of sound at the climaxes of the Sinfonietta doesn't have sufficient space to expand - the spectacularly-engineered VPO/Decca recording is ideal in this respect. Nonetheless, the new Supraphon set can be warmly welcomed.

Reviewed by Sandy Matheson