This was the first Janacek opera at this previously conservative festival.

A solid cadre of fans exists for any Janacek opera, mostly thanks to recordings, but Schoenberg at the City Opera may take some salesmanship.

The most useful resource for approaching "The Makropulos Case" is the Decca/London recording, the one really successful effort in the company's series of the five mature Janacek operas.

Still, I look forward to another Janacek opera under his capable baton.

(215-893-1999) "THE MAKROPOULOS CASE" - New York's subtle romance with Janacek operas proceeds apace.

This year's festival, through Sept. 13, has its gala opening on Saturday, when Mr. Ozawa will lead a performance of the Janacek opera "Jenufa."

Fibich's first act alone is nearly as long as the entire Janacek opera.

The production, which was to have opened on Oct. 30 for four performances, was part of the company's critically acclaimed cycle of Janacek operas.

He will be with the company when it comes to the Brooklyn Academy of Music in February with another Janacek opera staged by the same team, "The Makropulos Case."

Wexford gave the first Janacek opera ever performed in "these islands" - "Katya Kabanova" in 1972 - and now it and many of Janacek's other scores are almost warhorses.