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Janacek's Katya Kabanova

Janacek's tragic opera Katya Kabanova from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with soprano Amanda Majeski as the lonely Katya and tenor Pavel Cernoch as Boris.

Janacek's tragic opera Katya Kabanova about a lonely wife who longs for love is a devastating portrayal of isolation and guilt, portrayed through some of Janacek's most glorious music. American soprano Amanda Majeski sings the role of Katya who is unhappily married to Tichon Kabanov, and is constantly tormented by his bullying mother, Kabanicha, sung by Susan Bickley. Katya's neighbour Boris, the Czech tenor Pavel Cernoch, also is victimised by his uncle, so when Katya's husband is away on business, Katya and Boris meet and inevitably fall in love. Katya risks everything by their encounter and her insurmountable guilt leads to the opera's devastating end.
Both Amanda Majeski and Pavel Cernoch make their ROH debut in these roles. Edward Gardner conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in this highly acclaimed production and performance.
Flora Willson presents and chats to Janacek expert Nigel Simeone.

Katya.....Amanda Majeski (Soprano)
Vana.....Andrew Tortise (Tenor)
Boris.....Pavel Cernoch (Tenor)
Savel.....Clive Bayley (Bass)
Glasa.....Sarah Pring (Mezzo-soprano)
Feklusa.....Dervla Ramsay (Mezzo-soprano)
Marfa.....Susan Bickley (Mezzo-soprano)
Tichon.....Andrew Staples (Tenor)
Varvara.....Emily Edmonds (Mezzo-soprano)
Kuligin.....Dominic Sedgwick (Baritone)
Royal Opera House Chorus
Royal Opera House Orchestra
Edward Gardner (Conductor)

For full synopsis visit the programme page
Photograph 2019 Clive Barda ROH

2 hours, 29 minutes

Last on

Sat 27 Apr 2019 18:30

Music Played

  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Katya Kabanova Act I

    Singer: Amanda Majeski. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Katya Kabanova Act II

    Singer: Amanda Majeski. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Katya Kabanova Act III

    Singer: Amanda Majeski. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
  • William Grant Still

    Symphony no.1 'Afro American'

    Orchestra: Chicago Sinfonietta. Conductor: Paul Freeman.
    • African Heritage Symphonic Series, Volume 1.
    • CEDILLE.
    • 9.

Synopsis

Act I

V谩艌a Kudrj谩拧 draws the Kabanovs鈥 servant Gla拧a to the River Volga. Dikoj enters angrily with his nephew Boris, whom he denounces for his idleness. Dikoj leaves. Boris tells Kudrj谩拧 that his parents are dead, and, according to the terms of his grandmother鈥檚 will, he can only claim his inheritance if he respects Dikoj. Boris confides to Kudrj谩拧 that he has fallen in love with K谩t鈥檃 Kabanov谩. Returning from Evensong, Kabanicha, the Kabanov family matriarch, complains to her son Tichon that he has neglected her since his marriage. K谩t鈥檃 tries to placate her mother-in-law, but Kabanicha orders her to be quiet. The Kabanovs鈥 ward Varvara scolds Tichon for not defending his wife. K谩t鈥檃 tells Varvara that she was much happier before her marriage, and that she guiltily dreams of meeting Boris. Tichon prepares to leave on a business trip. K谩t鈥檃 asks to go with him. He refuses, so she insists he make her promise not to speak to any strangers while he is away. Kabanicha interrupts, and demands that Tichon instruct K谩t鈥檃 on how to behave during his absence. Tichon tells K谩t鈥檃 she must obey Kabanicha in all things, then leaves.

Act II

Kabanicha scolds K谩t鈥檃 for not showing more unhappiness at Tichon鈥檚 absence. Varvara offers K谩t鈥檃 the key to the far part of the garden, where she regularly meets her lover Kudrj谩拧. K谩t鈥檃 is horrified but can鈥檛 resist the chance to see Boris. She leaves. Kabanicha comes back with a drunken Dikoj, who demands that she scold him 鈥 she is the only person brave enough to do it. Kudrj谩拧 waits for Varvara and sings a folksong. Boris arrives in response to a mysterious message to wait in the garden. Varvara joins them, and she and Kudrj谩拧 leave to make love. K谩t鈥檃 appears, and Boris tells her that he loves her. She eventually admits that she loves him too. Varvara and Kudrj谩拧 return and suggest that Boris and K谩t鈥檃 go for a walk together.

Act III

It is two weeks later. A storm breaks, and Kudrj谩拧, Dikoj鈥檚 employee Kuligin, Dikoj and others take shelter. Kudrj谩拧 explains that storms are caused by electricity. Dikoj insists that storms are a punishment sent by God. Varvara warns Boris that Tichon has returned, and that K谩t鈥檃 is threatening to tell him everything. Boris hides as K谩t鈥檃 arrives, followed by Kabanicha, Dikoj and Tichon. Varvara attempts to calm K谩t鈥檃. K谩t鈥檃 confesses that she has slept with Boris. Tichon and Gla拧a search for K谩t鈥檃. Varvara, who has escaped the Kabanovs鈥 house, meets Kudrj谩拧, and they decide to leave for Moscow together. K谩t鈥檃 longs to see Boris again. He appears 鈥 but only to tell her that Dikoj is sending him away. K谩t鈥檃 first asks to go with him, then says he must depart alone. After Boris leaves, K谩t鈥檃 听determines on suicide and throws herself into the river. Kuligin sees her and calls for help, but it is too late. Tichon blames Kabanicha. Kabanicha thanks the bystanders for their help.

Broadcast

  • Sat 27 Apr 2019 18:30