Janáček (1854–1928)

The last decade of Janáček’s life, from 1918 to 1928, was one of the most productive late flowerings of any twentieth-century composer: his ‘retirement’ saw a stream of magnificent works, ranging from the two string quartets to concert pieces such as the Sinfonietta and the Glagolitic Mass and four extraordinary operas. In his talk, Nigel Simeone will explore this stunningly original music, illustrated with extensive recorded examples. He will also consider Janáček’s ‘rediscovery’ from the 1950s onwards, and the composer’s reputation today.

Nigel Simeone is the author of four books on Janáček (most recently a study of the Sinfonietta published in 2026). In 2024 he was awarded the Janáček Foundation Memorial Medal for his work on the composer, which has been a lifelong passion.