Janacek, Leos: From the House of the Dead

From the House of the Dead by Leos Janacek
Cast: Jiri Zahradnicek, Ivo Zidek, Vaclav Zitek, Dalibor Jedlicka, Antonin Svorc, Jaroslava Janska, Vladimir Krejcik, Richard Novak, Beno Blachut, Zdenek Svehla, Eva Zigmundova, Zdenek Sousek and Jaarfoslav Sousek;  Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras
Libretto by Janacek after Dostoyevsky's Memoirs from the House of the Dead
Label: Decca
Catalogue number: D224D2
Country of Issue: UK
Date: 1980
Stereo
Digital
Format: LP Boxed Set (2 discs plus booklet)
Label design: FIrst Decca LDR, light blue with black print
Discs: Near Mint, unmarked
Outer box: EX-.  Basically fine,  small scuffs on top and bottom edges and bottom tray,  slight damp marks on inner front;  small sticker on front easily removable (See photos)
Inner sleeves: original, polylined, almost as new
Booklet: full size 36pp, perfect, detailed notes and libretto in Czech, English, French and German

This item appears as new throughout except wear to the outer box as mentioned above. Acquired by us in 2007 as part of a large collection but never played since.

Janacek's last and greatest opera is a dark tale of a Siberian prison camp based closely on Dostoyevsky's novel.  The composer said:  'This black opera of mine is givbing me plenty of work. I fell as though in it I'm gradually descending lower and lower, right to the depths of humanity, to the most wretched of all people. And it's a difficult path.'

Janacek died before the vocal score was printed, and was beleived at first to be incomplete, so a version with addition text was performed from its premiere in 1930 until 1964 when a new score prepared by Rafael Kubelik was published, and championed by Charles Mackerras. 

Although the box shows some usage marks on the edges, the main panels are all in one piece and the forn unmarked apart from a small sticker. The discs themselves appear perfect.