The pregnant Jenůfa is trapped in a love triangle between two brothers, Laca and Števa, and subjected to cruel treatment. Her stepmother, Kostelnička, is desperate to avoid public disgrace and will stop at nothing to prevent Jenůfa’s life from becoming as wretched as her own—even if it means committing the unthinkable. Can the most unspeakable of crimes ever be understood? Could it even be forgiven?
Janáček’s much-loved Czech opera is a profoundly human portrayal of social control and the vulnerability of women. Julia Sporsén and Katarina Karnéus, two internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning Swedish soloists, perform the roles of Jenůfa and her formidable stepmother, Kostelnička.
The staging mirrors the rigid morality of its world, yet Janáček’s music paints it in a wealth of colours—passionate, expressive, and unflinchingly direct, speaking straight to the heart. The production is conducted by Alejo Pérez.
Premiered in Athens in 2018, this staging is directed by Nicola Raab, who has enjoyed remarkable success at the Göteborg Opera with Thaïs (2010) and A Flowering Tree (2015).
A production from the Greek National Opera.
