Leoš Janáček

The Makropulos Affair

The new critical edition of 'The Makropulos Affair' is thus mainly based on the most recent version that the composer himself had a hand in, but also takes into account some minor adjustments and the detailed scheme of dynamic markings worked out by the conductor of the first production, František Neumann, who implemented these changes in conjunction with Janácek. The present edition does not take into consideration any instrumental retouching carried out after the composer's death. On the other hand, in a few exceptional cases it does return to the autograph score - in places where it was noticed that the copyist had produced an incorrect transcription of the composer's manuscript, or where the copyist amended the notation in view of the technical capabilities of the Brno opera orchestra at the time. Important information relating to the tempo schemes adopted by František Neumann and Otakar Ostrcil, as well as practical advice from the leading Janácek conductor Sir Charles Mackerras and editorial remarks are printed directly under the passages in question. All the aspects in which the present edition differs from the above-mentioned sources are discussed in detail in the editor's report, which is available from the publisher. 'Poor 300-year-old beauty! People took her to be a thief, a liar, an unfeeling animal. They called her names such as beast and canaille, they wanted to strangle her - and what was she guilty of? That she had to live a long time. I was sorry for her. ' (Leoš Janá?ek to Kamila Stösslová, 5 December 1925)