Janácek's poignant opera Jenufa

Patrick Lange conducts the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Groot Omroepkoor and an international cast of soloists in Leoš Janácek's poignant opera Jenufa.

The naturalism of Jenufa

Perhaps one of the most poignant operas is Leoš Janácek's Jenufa, but with its naturalistic painting of Moravian rural life, it never becomes sentimental or melodramatic. For ten years, from 1894 to 1904, the Czech composer worked on this heartfelt work, and it paved the way for a music-dramatic oeuvre that he realized in the second half of his life.

Leading roles for Lise Davidsen and Claude Eichenberger

In 1890 Gabriela Preissová wrote the play Her Foster Daughter. It deals with the sextoness Buryjovka, who has the girl Jenufa in her care. Jenufa is impregnated by her beautiful stepbrother Števa. When the latter refuses to marry her, the tragic story unfolds. Janácek wrote sometimes obstinately rhythmic, sometimes lyrically meandering symphonic music, while Bohemian and Moravian traditions regularly seep through the notes. The carrying lyric soprano role of Jenufa (Lise Davidsen) is compelling, but the character role of the sextoness, a dramatic soprano (Claude Eichenberger), cuts through marrow and bone, especially given the deadly dilemmas she faces.

This concert will be performed without an audience. Live broadcast can be heard on NPO Radio 4. Live webcast via Radio 4.nl.