Jenůfa

An overwhelming drama about distrust, jealousy, various forms of love and the ability to forgive the unforgivable

Leoš Janáček was enthralled by the Czech writer Gabriela Preissová’s realistic drama Her Stepdaughter, which had been staged in 1890 without great success. Janáček himself adapted the play into a libretto, while retaining the original literary form, thus being one of the pioneers of opera sung in prose, not in verse, as had been the convention. Janáček completed the opera in early 1903.

With an acute sense for earthy drama and with enormous empathy, he depicted human relationships amid the harsh universe of a self-contained village community, where everyone knows each other’s business. This environment affects the life of the young Jenůfa and, particularly, governs the behaviour of her stepmother Kostelnička, who strives to maintain her reputation as a virtuous woman and the villagers’ respect. Determined to preserve her standing, she even goes so far as to secretly murder Jenůfa’s illegitimate child.

Performing:

National Theatre Chorus
National Theatre Orchestra
National Theatre Opera Ballet
Soloists

Important: 

• The program may be subject to change
• The purchased tickets cannot be returned or exchanged
• Theatre is a cultural institution. Please respect the common principles of appropriate behaviour and clothing
• The price includes service fee of 3,7 € (100,- CZK)

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