“…thanks to the thrillingly immediate singing of the National Theatre Chorus (excellent throughout the opera), this performance is uniquely stirring… Kyzlink’s is the more detailed and incisive account, opening up warmly for the lyrical episodes but with a keen sense of momentum in the rest, and an unerring feeling for the work’s wit. Březina is splendid in the title role, not too hammy in this character tenor role, and the rest of the cast are wonderfully idiomatic. In the week of Janáček’s 170th birthday, this is a marvellous contribution to his music’s discography.”
Europadisc, July 2024
“This new studio version, conducted by Jaroslav Kyzlink, sounds cleaner and more muscular, and the orchestra of the Prague National Theatre understands Janáček’s style inside out. Characterful in the title role, Jaroslav Březina heads up an excellent cast, with Alžběta Poláčková sparkling as the love interest and the three young-man roles outstandingly sung by Aleš Briscein, whose tenor rises seemingly effortlessly to the moon and beyond.”
The Guardian, July 2024
“Jaroslav Kyzlink lässt das fabelhafte Orchester des Prager Nationaltheaters höchst expressiv, in artikulatorischer Akkuratesse aufspielen… Vom Klasseensemble bis in die kleinsten Rollen (Aleš Briscein, František Zahradníček, Alžběta Poláčková, Jiří Sulženko, Roman Janál, Jiří Brückler) ist besonders der höhensichere, hell timbrierte Tenor Jaroslav Březina als Matej Broucek hervorzuheben… Eine einzigartige Oper, die Konzentration erfordert und am besten mit dem Libretto in der Hand gehört werden sollte. Wer sich darauf einlässt, wird gerade mit dieser Einspielung (als Gesamtensembleleistung und orchestral die beste und brillanteste, die ich kenne), glücklich werden. Auch tontechnisch bleibt kein Wunsch offen.”
Online Merker, July 2024
“The Czech cast revelling in the comic capers and obviously appreciating Janacek’s sometimes savage satire, the unique sound of his orchestral writing conjures the atmosphere of the lunar colony and catacombs under 15th century Prague… It is a delightful romp when it is performed with this kind of understanding and effection. It is a new recording from the Czech label Supraphon. Two CDs. It's my Record of the Week.”
BBC Radio 3, July 2024
“Orchestrally, Supraphon conductor Jaroslav Kyzlink better projects the opera’s more spontaneous, chaotic moments than the BBC Symphony and finds more meaning in the details. The two casts are evenly matched… I prefer (though not by much) Jaroslav Březina’s more declaimed approach on Supraphon for his dramatic commitment and ability to find meaning in a single note.”
Gramophone, September 2024
“The conductor Jaroslav Kyzlink has all the right instincts, capturing the multiple settings brilliantly while keeping a tight grip on the often hectic crowd scenes. The orchestra plays with chamber-like ensemble and the choir is fearless in attacking their stratospheric parts… Aleš Briscein is rather pallid as Mazal on Earth, but comes alive on the Moon as the preposterous Blankytný. Alžběta Poláčková is excellent throughout and really shines as the Hussite maiden, Kunka… Others are consistently fine across all their roles notably Jiří Sulženko and František Zahradníček.”
BBC Music Magazine, September 2024