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Deutsche Oper am Rhein Presents Leoš Janáček's Jenůfa at Theater Duisburg

Apr. 12, 2024

Deutsche Oper am Rhein presents new production of Leoš Janáček's Jenůfa from April 14-May 19 at the Theater Duisburg in Duisburg, Germany. The opera tells the harrowing tale of Jenůfa, stepdaughter of the village sexton, Kostelnička. Based on Její pastorkyňa (Her Stepdaughter), a play by Czech writer and playwright Gabriela Preissová, Jenůfa has proven to be one of Janáček’s most enduring works. Unique in its starkly realistic, honest portrayal of its large cast, no one character is truly “good” or “bad”; rather the reality falls somewhere in between, much as it does in real life. 

Another distinct feature of the opera lies in its uncommon treatment of vocal melodies, which came about as a result of Janáček’s use of what he called “speech melody.” This concept was developed by the composer himself following years of studying Moravian folk tunes and speech patterns; it manifests itself in his operas as a heretofore-unseen integration of the rhythms, pitch contours, and inflections of conversational Czech into the musical line. 

Axel Kober conducts and Tatjana Gürbaca directs this new co-production with the Grand Théâtre de Genève, which features Jacquelyn Wagner in the title role.


Trailer – Behind the Scenes of Jenůfa: Stage Rehearsal


Trailer – Behind the Scenes of Jenůfa: Music & Orchestra

Earlier this month, Curtis Opera Theatre presented another operatic masterpiece by Janáček – The Cunning Little Vixen – led by director John Giampietro and conductor Vinay Parameswaran at the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater in Philadelphia.

For more information on Leoš Janáček, visit universaledition.com.

Leoš Janáček
Jenůfa (1894-1903/1908)
an opera in three acts, from Moravian peasant life 
Brno version, critical edition, edited by Sir Charles Mackerras and John Tyrrell
libretto (Cz) by Gabriela Preissová, after the play ‘Her Stepdaughter’
for 4 sopranos, 2 altos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, 2 tenors, baritone, bass and chorus (SATTBB)
3.3.3.3-4.2.3.1-timp.2perc-bells.hp-str - stage orchestra: 2hn.toy tpt-xyl.bells-str(1.1.1.1.1)
120'

The Cunning Little Vixen (1922-1923)
libretto (Cz) by Leoš Janáček
translation (En) by Kelley Rourke
Revised by Jiri Zahradka
for 8 sopranos (3 from the chorus), mezzo-soprano, 2 altos, 3 tenors (one from chorus), baritone, 3 basses, children soloists, corps du ballet, SATB choir and children’s choir
4.3.3.3-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-hp.cel-str
110’

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