Leos Janácek and "the late style" in music

Czech composer Leos Janácek (1854-1928) represents one of the most remarkable cases of creative energy in advancing years. Indeed, he is remembered primarily for the works that he composed in the last decade of his life. In this paper, Janácek's concept of aging is outlined in three areas: the subject matter of his late operas, the composer's own comments during this period, and the shape of his musical structures. The concept of "the late style" is questioned, and the problems of applying models to artistic creativity and productivity are noted.