Sir Charles Mackerras, Leoš Janáček Bohuslav Martinu, Chor Und Orchester Der Tschechischen Philharmonie - Amarus Feldmesse

dhizzkid

Review by Valentino Godwin

Album Review: Amarus Feldmesse by Sir Charles Mackerras & Co. If you’re into classical music with a modern twist, Amarus Feldmesse is one of those albums that sneaks up on you and leaves an impression. Released in 1985 under the Supraphon label, this Czech-German gem brings together works by Leoš Janáček and Bohuslav Martinů, conducted by the legendary Sir Charles Mackerras. The album’s got a mix of spiritual depth and raw emotion, delivered by some killer performances from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. Let’s dive into it! The first track that really stuck with me was “Polní Mše (Field Mass).” It’s haunting but not in a creepy way—more like it gets under your skin. The blend of Květoslava Němečková’s soprano vocals and Václav Zítek’s baritone creates this push-and-pull effect that feels kinda cinematic. You can almost picture soldiers out in a field during wartime, grappling with their humanity amidst chaos. Jiří Mucha’s text adds layers to the piece, making it feel personal yet universal. Honestly, I found myself replaying this track just to catch all the nuances. Another standout for me was “IV. Adagio.” This one hits different—it’s slower, more reflective, almost meditative. The orchestra doesn’t rush it; they let the music breathe. There’s something about how the strings swell and then pull back, creating these waves of tension and release. It’s the kind of track that makes you pause whatever you’re doing and just listen. Like, wow, this isn’t background music—it demands your attention. One thing worth mentioning is the production quality. Engineer Václav Roubal did a bang-up job capturing every detail without over-polishing it. And props to Lubomír Mátl, the chorus master, because the choir sounds tight as heck. Even the sleeve design by Jan Pohribný has this understated elegance that matches the tone of the album perfectly. What surprised me most? How timeless this record feels. Sure, it came out nearly four decades ago, but there’s nothing dated about it. In fact, listening to Amarus Feldmesse today feels oddly comforting, like reconnecting with an old friend who still has plenty of stories to tell. So yeah, if you’re looking to add some depth to your playlist or just want to explore some lesser-known classical gems, give this one a shot. Just don’t blame me if you end up zoning out at work while listening to “Adagio”—it’s that good.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: sir-charles-mackerras-leo-janek-bohuslav-martinu-chor-und.zip
  • MP3 size: 22.2 mb
  • FLAC size: 312.6 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
V. Epilog5:30
Polní Mše (Field Mass)24:55
IV. Adagio3:40
III. Moderato8:16
I. Moderato4:30
II. Andante7:22

Video

Bohuslav Martinů Polní mše (Field Mass)
Leoš Janáček: Amarus

Images

ladda ner album Sir Charles Mackerras, Leoš Janáček Bohuslav Martinu, Chor Und Orchester Der Tschechischen Philharmonie - Amarus Feldmesse

Catalog Numbers

207 454-425

Labels

Supraphon

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Formats

  • Vinyl
  • LP
  • Album
  • Stereo

Companies

RoleCompany
Distributed ByAriola Group Of Companies

Credits

RoleCredit
Baritone VocalsVáclav Zítek
ChorusPražský Filharmonický Sbor
Chorus MasterLubomír Mátl
ConductorSir Charles Mackerras
CoverJan Pohribný
EngineerVáclav Roubal
Orchestrated ByČeská Filharmonie
Recording SupervisorZdeněk Zahradník
Sleeve NotesJaroslav Mihule
Soprano VocalsKvětoslava Němečková (tracks: A)
Tenor VocalsLeo Marian Vodička (tracks: A)
Text ByJaroslav Vrchlický (tracks: A), Jiří Mucha (tracks: B)
Written-ByBohuslav Martinů (tracks: B), Leoš Janáček (tracks: A)

Notes

  • DMM Direct Metal Mastering - Digital Recording
  • Recorded at the Supraphon studio at the House of Artist, Prague, from 20 to 21 January (Field Mass) and on 30 January, 1984 (Amarus).

Barcodes

Barcode (Text): 4 007192 074549

About Sir Charles Mackerras, Leoš Janáček Bohuslav Martinu, Chor Und Orchester Der Tschechischen Philharmonie

Australian conductor. Born 17 November 1925 in Schenectady, New York, USA Died 14 July 2010 in London, England. He was long associated with the English and Welsh National Opera, and was the first Australian chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and a renowned Czech classical music specialist. He was knighted in 1979.

Real Name

    • Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras

Name Vars

  • C Mackerras
  • C. Mackerras
  • Ch. Mackerras
  • Charles Mac Kerras
  • Charles MacKerras
  • Charles Mackeras
  • Charles Mackerras
  • Charles McKerras
  • M. Mackerras
  • Mackeras
  • Mackerras
  • Sir C. Mackerras
  • Sir Ch. Mackerras
  • Sir Charles Macckerras
  • Sir Charles Mackarras
  • Sir Charles Mackeras
  • Sir Charles Mackerras CBE
  • Sir. Charles Mckerras
  • Šarl Makeras
  • ÁãüëºûÞñé¹

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The album *Amarus Feldmesse* is a fascinating blend of two Czech composers' works, brought to life by Sir Charles Mackerras in 1985. It features Janáček's *Field Mass*, a piece inspired by soldiers during World War I, and Martinů's *Amarus*, a dramatic cantata. What makes it even cooler is the teamwork behind it—over 100 musicians, singers, and technicians collaborated to create this masterpiece. The recording took place in Prague, with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir delivering powerful performances. Even the cover art was crafted by Jan Pohribný, adding a unique visual touch to this classical gem.

Comments

lukashany26
lukashany26
2025-03-19
Martinů........real genius. Magical music
melody1175
melody1175
2025-03-19
Opět Mistr nezklamal.
namratabardhan
namratabardhan
2025-03-19
Would someone please post the original Czech text too. That would make it easier to follow along with the translation.
Thank you.
drmonika2014
drmonika2014
2025-03-18
Thank you for the English translation of the text. Wonderful performance!
flintcharterbus
flintcharterbus
2025-03-18
Amarus, Tagebuch eines Verschollenen, Das ewige Evangelium: drei großartige Mini-Opern von Janacek!
yvp1103
yvp1103
2025-03-17
Josef Suk vyprávěl, jak mu Antonín Dvořák významně ukazoval jedno místo v Janáčkově kantátě Amarus a Sukovi bylo to místo velmi divné. "To je divné, mistře..." A Dvořák na to: "ano, je to divné, ale tady máte konečně skladatele, který přemýšlí vlastní hlavou."