My Life with Janacek: the Memoirs of Zdenka Janackova - Hardcover

Zdenka Janackova

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0571175406 ISBN 13: 9780571175406

Publisher: Faber and Faber, 1998

Synopsis

Zdenka Janácková's memoirs were considered too personal for publication at the time of her death in1937. She tells the tale of her extraordinary life with Janácek, from her years as his young piano pupil (when the composer was 23) to his sudden death at the age of 74. Her story provides a first-hand - and not always flattering - account of Janácek's day-to-day life. Its many dramatic revelations include an account of his tempestuous affair with the singer Gabriela Horvátová, Zdenka's subsequent suicide attempt and her strange 'divorce' from her husband (they continued to live together until his death). Among other striking passages are her harrowing description of the long illness and painful death of their daughter Olga and a forthright account of Janácek's increasing infatuation during his late years with his 'muse' Kamila Stösslová and of the events surrounding his death.

Zdenka's compelling and startlingly frank story is a moving document in its own right, written unashamedly to set the record straight and it paints a fascinating picture of the changing times during which the composer lived with its woman-in-the street's perspective of the First World War and the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

About this title

Synopsis:

Zdenka Janackova's memoirs, published in this book, were considered too personal for publication at the time of her death in 1937. She tells the tale of her extraordinary life with the Czech composer, Leos Janacek, from her years as his young piano pupil to his sudden death at the age of 74. Her story provides first-hand account of Janacek's day-to-day life, and the many dramatic revelations include an account of his tempestuous affair with the singer Gabriela Horvatova, Zdenka's subsequent suicide attempt, and her strange "divorce" from her husband (they continued to live together until his death). Among other striking passages are a harrowing description of the long illness and painful death of their daughter Olga, and a forthright account of Janacek's increasing infatuation during his late years with his "muse", Kamila Stosslova, and of the events surrounding his death.

About the Author:

John Tyrrell is Professor of Music at Cardiff University. His books include Czech Opera, Janácek's Operas and editions of the memoirs of Janácek's widow and Janácek's correspondence with Kamila Stösslová . He is co-author of the standard catalogue of Janácek's works and, with Sir Charles Mackerras, he edited Janácek's opera Jenufa. In 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Masaryk University of Brno for his work on Janácek and Czech music.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber and Faber
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0571175406
• ISBN 13: 9780571175406
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 278
• Editor: John Tyrrell