Janacek: Years of a Life Volume 2 (1914-1928): Tsar of the Forests - Tapa dura

Volume 2 opens at the the outbreak of the First World War and at the time of Janácek's lowest ebb. Within two years, however, his fortunes were transformed by the Prague production of Jenufa This led to international fame and fortune and to the magnificent creative flowering in which the elderly composer wrote most of his best-known works. His personal life was affected by his public affair with Gabriela Horvátová and his friendship with Kamila Stösslová, whom he saw as the inspiration for many of his late works.

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.