John Tyrrell: Janacek: Years of a Life. Volume 2 (1914-1928) 'Tsar of the Forests'
October 2007
Following the publication in 2006 of the first volume of his ground-breaking biography of Leos Janacek - Janacek: Years of a Life. Volume 1 (1864-1914) 'The Lonely Blackbird' - Professor John Tyrrell's second volume has just been published by Faber & Faber. It follows the composer through the Great War and his extraordinary late flowering in his operas The Excursions of Mr Broucek, Katya Kabanova, The Cunning Little Vixen, The Makropulos Case and From the House of the Dead. In following Janacek's life, Tyrrell does not neglect seemingly side issues which nevertheless had an impact on his creative output, including sections on the composer's finances, his health, his personal affairs and his views on music. This second volume completes what will surely prove to be an indispensable companion to anyone interested in Janacek and musical life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.