Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Burn After Reading

Kate Molleson explores the maverick spirit, fierce passions and phenomenal twilight years of Leos Janacek. Today, Jan谩膷ek鈥檚 infatuation with Kamila St枚sslov谩 goes up a gear.

Kate Molleson follows the sharp turns of Jan谩膷ek鈥檚 escalating love triangle.

Leo拧 Jan谩膷ek was a true Czech original. He heard music in the way people talk on the streets, loved the local and made it universal - pouring his 鈥渟peech melodies鈥 into pioneering, devastating operas, and writing some of the most intimate confessionals in instrumental music. His life also came with a major plot twist 鈥 after years of toiling away unappreciated, he suddenly found fame in his 60s. Instead of winding down, Jan谩膷ek revved up. All this week, Kate Molleson explores his maverick spirit, his fierce passions, and the phenomenal flood of inspiration of his twilight years.

Today, Jan谩膷ek鈥檚 infatuation with Kamila St枚sslov谩 goes up a gear, a certain letter causes havoc in his marriage, and he writes his ecstatic masterpiece, the Glagolitic Mass.

Glagolitic Mass: Intrada
Czech Philharmonic
Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek, conductor

The Excursions of Mr Broucek Suite (The Moon Waltz)
麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, conductor

1905 Sonata
Lars Vogt, piano

Capriccio (ii Adagio, iii Allegretto)
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
Members of Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Glagolitic Mass: Slava; Veruju
Hibla Gerzmava, soprano
Stuart Neill, tenor
Jan Martin铆k, bass
Veronika Hajnov谩, mezzo-soprano
Ale拧 B谩rta, organ
Czech Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra
Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek, conductor

Moravian Love Songs: No 10 鈥楲ove鈥
Tom谩拧 Kr谩l, baritone
Ivo Kah谩nek, piano

Produced by Amelia Parker for 麻豆社 Audio Wales and West

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Glagolitic Mass (Intrada)

    Performer: Ale拧 B谩rta. Singer: Hibla Gerzmava. Singer: Hibla Gerzmava. Singer: Stuart Neill. Singer: Stuart Neill. Singer: Jan Martin铆k. Singer: Jan Martin铆k. Singer: Veronika Hajnov谩. Singer: Veronika Hajnov谩. Choir: Prague Philharmonic Choir. Choir: Prague Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek. Conductor: Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek.
    • Decca 483 4080.
    • Decca.
    • 8.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    The Excursions of Mr Broucek Suite (No 2, Moon Waltz)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.
    • HYPERION : CDA-67517.
    • HYPERION.
    • 8.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    1905 Sonata

    Performer: Lars Vogt.
    • Lars Vogt.
    • Ondine.
    • 1.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Capriccio (4th mvt)

    Performer: Jean鈥怑fflam Bavouzet. Performer: Ingela Oien. Performer: John A. Behnke. Performer: Gary Petersen.
    • CHANDOS CHSA5142.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 8.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Glagolitic Mass (Slava; Veruju)

    Performer: Ale拧 B谩rta. Singer: Hibla Gerzmava. Singer: Stuart Neill. Singer: Jan Martin铆k. Singer: Veronika Hajnov谩. Choir: Prague Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek.
    • Decca 483 4080.
    • Decca.
    • 3.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Moravian Love Songs ('Carnation' & 'Love')

    Performer: Ivo Kah谩nek. Singer: Tom谩拧 Kr谩l.
    • SUPRAPHON : SU 41832.
    • SUPRAPHON.
    • 23.

Broadcast

  • Thu 22 May 2025 16:00

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.