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Opera

Shattering - despite the lack of staging: Czech Phil’s Jenufa reviewed

Janacek’s operas are unique and uniquely great – but only a full sensitive staging will get this across. This fine Royal Festival Hall performance did not do this

30 April 2016

9:00 AM

30 April 2016

9:00 AM

Jenufa

Royal Festival Hall

Janacek’s Jenufa, his first great opera, had a one-night stand at the Royal Festival Hall last Monday, courtesy of the wonderful Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jiri Belohlavek, the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, a large body that had all of five minutes’ singing, and a mainly excellent cast, with Karita Mattila making her transition from the title role, which she has so often performed to powerful effect, to that of the Kostelnicka, the terrifying figure of rectitude who drowns her daughter-in-law’s illegitimate baby rather than bring disgrace on the family.

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