Jenufa/Katya Kabanova

(Paperback)

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Description

This double volume contains two masterpieces of the late-flowering genius of the Czech composer Leos Janasek. Jenufa was the opera which finally brought him international recognition - and, with it, fame at home; it was the fruit of over twenty-five years of work. A tragedy with a happy ending, its moving story seems to embody the spirit of Moravian village life. Katya, on the other hand, was composed in an uninterrupted flow during the year 1920: based on Ostrovsky's The Storm, it contains wonderful love music inspired by the composer's love for a much younger woman. The scores are discussed by Arnold Whittall in a comparative essay, and the background sources are variously introduced by social and literary historians. John Tyrell comments on an important and newly discovered letter about the genesis of Katya; Sir Charles Mackerras describes his work as an interpreter and advocate of this brilliantly original and dramatic music.

Reviews

Brilliantly produced and superb value. * The Sunday Times *
All these will provide the new opera-goer with food for thought. * The Daily Telegraph *
Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series. * TLS *

Author Bio

Leo Jancek (18541928) was a Czech composer and teacher. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to the study of national folklore music, which greatly influenced his work throughout his life.