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The Radio 3 Boards > The Music Boards > The Opera House > Jenufa
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Author Topic: Jenufa  (Read 1189 times)
Tantris
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« on: 19:18:28, 17-02-2007 »
I'm enjoying this performance - anyone else?

PS - I'm also looking forward to Broucek - the one Janacek opera I am yet to hear.
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SimonSagt!
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« Reply #1 on: 19:22:41, 17-02-2007 »
Yes I am, very much! Hate the storyline, but the music's good stuff and they are certainly singing it well. Good production indeed.

bws Simon
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The Emperor suspected they were right. But he dared not stop and so on he walked, more proudly than ever. And his courtiers behind him held high the train... that wasn't there at all.
trained-pianist
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« Reply #2 on: 19:38:06, 17-02-2007 »
I just finished ACT 1. Such a dark story.
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Mary Chambers
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« Reply #3 on: 20:42:35, 17-02-2007 »
Absolutely wonderful stuff. I'm on the edge of my seat.

I only manged to find a libretto in Czech online, which isn't a lot of use to me. Must have another look.
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #4 on: 20:55:13, 17-02-2007 »
How does it ends? Why does she kill the baby?
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Tam Pollard
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« Reply #5 on: 21:21:17, 17-02-2007 »
Forgot about this and only tuned in for the third act. Maybe that's to blame, but I'm afraid I can't hear the fire opilec talked about (which for me is essential to good Janacek).

regards, Tam
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SimonSagt!
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« Reply #6 on: 21:40:44, 17-02-2007 »
Hi Mary,

I don't know if you are aware of this site, but I've found it very useful for everything operatic. It's very comprehensive. There aren't always the libretti - and sometimes they are in the original language without translations (I'm in the middle of translating one for the site to help with this) - but even so there are quite often links to synopses.

I've had a look at the listings for Jenufa - the first listed click doesn't work, but the second is interesting and worthwhile, IMO.

Here it is: http://opera.stanford.edu/operas.html

bws Simon
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The Emperor suspected they were right. But he dared not stop and so on he walked, more proudly than ever. And his courtiers behind him held high the train... that wasn't there at all.
Tam Pollard
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« Reply #7 on: 22:09:04, 17-02-2007 »
In truth, one cannot fairly judge a performance jumping in midway through - I'm quite cross with myself for forgetting about it (and might give listen again a go).
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #8 on: 22:42:22, 17-02-2007 »
SimonSagt,
This site doesn't have Junifa. May be it is under construction or something. I could not find many libretti(s).

I found some moments of opera very emotional (like it should be) and passionate. . I thought Cunning little vixen was more colourfully orchestrated. One listening is not enough. I can not say I particularly cared for this cast, but they were very well received. May be I am not right. 
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SimonSagt!
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« Reply #9 on: 00:03:12, 18-02-2007 »
It doesn't have a Junifa, t-p, but it certainly has a Jenufa! The second of those listed takes you straight to the Jenufa page of a Janucek site. Trust me, I've been there!  Smiley
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The Emperor suspected they were right. But he dared not stop and so on he walked, more proudly than ever. And his courtiers behind him held high the train... that wasn't there at all.
trained-pianist
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Posts: 5455
« Reply #10 on: 09:31:06, 18-02-2007 »
Thank you SimonSagt. I was able to open and read it. However, the first name there don't work. For some reason my computer could not find it last evening.

I find the plot confusing and far fetched. I don't believe one can live happy ever after with such a history. And I know that people don't forgive easily. I am with people who find it hard to believe.
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Mary Chambers
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« Reply #11 on: 11:07:16, 18-02-2007 »
I agree, t-p. The ending is so unlikely that I feel it weakens the opera. He'd have done better to make it a total stark tragedy.


SimonSagt! Thank you for the link. I had come acros that site before, but hadn't thought of it this time. Most of the links I clicked on didn't work, though, so it's a bit limited.
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Tam Pollard
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« Reply #12 on: 11:54:30, 18-02-2007 »
I slightly agree with regard to the plot, but forgiveness is a pretty common theme in Janacek's work. (Take, for example, the Makropulos case which actually ends up with much of the cast apologising TO Marty!)
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Catalys
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« Reply #13 on: 16:42:45, 18-02-2007 »
Quote from: Mary Chambers on 11:07:16, 18-02-2007
I agree, t-p. The ending is so unlikely that I feel it weakens the opera. He'd have done better to make it a total stark tragedy.

As I stupidly forgot to listen last night until too late I can't comment on how the ending worked on radi but when I saw Jenufa last year (ETO) I didn't find the ending too unlikely. I certainly found it fitted musically & dramatically and provided something of a catharsis after all the tensions in the rest of the opera. I can still se it in my mind's eye - Jenufa & Laca standing lit with that glorious endign music pouring out (vision slightly blurred as I was in tears by that point).
Of course this could be just my personal preference for a happy ending, or at least one with some hope, such as Gotterdammerung or Tristan. I find some of the operas where the stage is littered with bodies by the end, or ones like Boheme where I just spent the whole time waiting for Mimi to go and die, to be rather depressing.
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Tantris
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« Reply #14 on: 17:10:28, 18-02-2007 »
Quote from: opilec on 20:40:12, 17-02-2007
Tantris, have you heard his two early operas, Sarka and The Beginning of a Romance? These are the only two I've never seen in the theatre, though I have recordings.

Am pleasantly surprised with Belohlavek's conducting: in the past, I never felt he had enough fire for Janacek. Silja's Kostelnicka is sometimes a bit wayward with regard to pitch, but she's such a great actress - better experienced in the theatre, I think, than simply heard on radio or CD. Amazing she's still singing stuff like this, considering she was singing Wagner in the 60s at Bayreuth under Knappertsbusch.

Am regretting I missed Act 1 this evening: thanks for drawing my attention to it!  Smiley

The very wintry conditions in New York at the moment must certainly be adding something to the chill of Act 2.

I know Sarka - in a pile somewhere I may even have a recording, but not The Beginning of a Romance - I will have to investigate. I once spent a year listening and playing little other than Janacek, so compelling do I find his music.

I thought the first act was great, but the tension ebbed a little in the next two acts. I'll listen again and see if I warm to these more, though. I also listened to an old LP of the Medici SQ playing the two Janacek quartets yesterday - that really is a phenomenal performance and recording, but never seems to get mentioned anywhere.
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