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''Její pastorkyňa'' (''Her Stepdaughter''; commonly known as ''Jenůfa'' ) is an
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
in three acts by
Leoš Janáček Leoš Janáček (, 3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was a Czech composer, Music theory, music theorist, Folkloristics, folklorist, publicist, and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian folk music, Moravian and other Slavs, Slavic music, includin ...
to a Czech
libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...
by the composer, based on the
play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...
''Její pastorkyňa'' by Gabriela Preissová. It was first performed at the National Theatre,
Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...
on 21 January 1904. Composed between 1896 and 1902, it is among the first operas written in prose. The first of Janáček's operas in which his distinctive voice can clearly be heard, it is a grim story of
infanticide Infanticide (or infant homicide) is the intentional killing of infants or offspring. Infanticide was a widespread practice throughout human history that was mainly used to dispose of unwanted children, its main purpose being the prevention of re ...
and redemption. Like the playwright's original work, it is known for its unsentimental realism. While today it is heard in the
composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...
's original version, ''Jenůfas early popularity was due to a revised version by
Karel Kovařovic Karel Kovařovic (9 December 1862 6 December 1920) was a Czech people, Czech composer and conductor from Prague. Life From 1873 to 1879 he studied clarinet, harp and piano at the Prague Conservatory.''Dopisy o životě hudebním i lidském, p. ...
, altering what was considered its eccentric style and
orchestration Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra (or, more loosely, for any musical ensemble, such as a concert band) or of adapting music composed for another medium for an orchestra. Also called "instrumentation", orch ...
. Thus altered, it was well-received, first in
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
, and particularly after its
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
première also worldwide. More than 70 years passed before audiences again heard it in Janáček's original version. Janáček wrote an overture to the opera, but decided not to use it. It was partly based on a song called ''Žárlivec'' (''The jealous man''). It is now performed as a concert piece under the title ''Žárlivost'' (''Jealousy''), JW 6/10. The composer dedicated the work to the memory of his daughter Olga (d. 1903), as he did his choral composition the '' Elegy on the Death of Daughter Olga''.


Roles


Synopsis

:Place: A
Moravia Moravia ( ; ) is a historical region in the eastern Czech Republic, roughly encompassing its territory within the Danube River's drainage basin. It is one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The medieval and early ...
n village :Time: the nineteenth century The plot depends on a tangled set of village relationships. Before the opera begins, the mill-owner Grandmother Buryja had two sons. The elder married the widow of a man named Klemeň, became stepfather to her son Laca, and had a son of his own with her, Števa. The younger married twice, and had a daughter, Jenůfa, with his first wife. When the opera opens, Grandmother Buryja's sons and their wives have died, except for the Kostelnička (the
sacristan A sacristan is an officer charged with care of the sacristy, the church, and their contents. In ancient times, many duties of the sacrist were performed by the doorkeepers ( ostiarii), and later by the treasurers and mansionarii. The Decretal ...
or sextoness of the village church), the younger son's second wife and Jenůfa's stepmother. Custom dictates that Števa alone, as the elder son's only child, will inherit the mill, leaving his half-brother Laca and cousin Jenůfa to earn their livings.


Act 1

Jenůfa, Laca, and Grandmother Buryja wait for Števa to return home. Jenůfa, in love with Števa and secretly pregnant with his child, worries that he may have been drafted into the army. Laca, in love with Jenůfa, expresses bitterness against his half-brother's favored position at home. As he complains he plays with a knife and, finding it blunt, gives it to the mill foreman to be sharpened. The foreman informs the family that Števa has not been drafted, to Jenůfa's relief and Laca's increased frustration. The others leave, and Jenůfa waits to greet Števa. He appears with a group of soldiers, drunk and boasting of his prowess with the girls. He calls for music and drags the miserable Jenůfa into dancing with him. The Kostelnička steps into this rowdy scene, silences the musicians and, shocked by Števa's behavior, forbids him to marry Jenůfa until he can stay sober for one full year. The soldiers and the family leave Števa and Jenůfa alone, and she begs him to love her, but he, unaware of her pregnancy, gives her casual answers and leaves. Laca returns, as bitter as ever. He attempts to goad Jenůfa into criticizing Števa, but she takes her lover's side despite everything. Laca rages that Števa would never even look at her if it weren't for her rosy cheeks, then slashes her across the cheek with his knife.


Act 2

Months later, it is winter. The baby has been born, but Števa has not yet come to visit his child. Jenůfa's face is still disfigured, but she is happy in her love for the baby. While Jenůfa sleeps, the Kostelnička summons Števa and demands that he take responsibility. He answers that while he will provide money in secret, no one must know the baby is his. His love for Jenůfa died when Laca spoiled her beauty, and he is now engaged to marry Karolka, the mayor's pretty daughter. Števa leaves, and Laca enters. He still doesn't know the truth about the baby, and when the Kostelnička tells him, his first reaction is disgust at the thought of taking Števa's child under his wing. Fearful that Jenůfa will be left with no one to marry, Kostelnička hastily lies that the baby is dead. Laca leaves, and the Kostelnička is faced with the necessity of making the lie true. She wraps the baby in a shawl and leaves the house. Jenůfa wakes up and says a prayer for her child's future, but the Kostelnička, returning, tells her that the baby died while she slept. Laca appears and comforts Jenůfa gently, asking that they spend the rest of their lives together. Seeing the tenderness of the couple, the Kostelnička tries to convince herself that she has acted for the best.


Act 3

It is now spring, and Laca and Jenůfa's wedding day. All seems right again, except that the Kostelnička is a nervous wreck. Števa and Karolka visit, and a chorus of village girls sings a wedding song. Just then, screams are heard. The body of the baby has been discovered in the mill-stream under the melting ice. Jenůfa immediately says that the baby is hers, and in her grief appears guilty of the murder. The village is ready to exact immediate justice against Jenůfa, but the Kostelnička calms them and says that the crime is hers. Hearing the whole story, Jenůfa forgives her stepmother. The crowd takes the Kostelnička off to jail. Jenůfa and Laca are left alone. Jenůfa asks Laca to leave her, as she cannot expect him to marry her now. He replies that he will not leave her, and that he wishes to spend the rest of his life with her.


Noted arias

* "In a moment" o chvíla(Kostelnička) * Jenůfa's prayer (Jenůfa) * Finale desli(Jenůfa, Laca)


Recordings

* 1951: Stepanka Jelinkova, Beno Blachut, Ivo Žídek, Marta Krásová, Miloslava Fidlerova, Milada Čadikovičová, Karel Kalaš, Marie Musilova, Vladimir Jedenactik, Milada Šubrtová, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Jaroslav Vogel, Supraphon, recorded at the Dvorak Hall of the Rudolfinum, Prague 2 CDs * 1969: Libuše Domaninskayá, Vilém Přibyl, Ivo Žídek, Naděžda Kniplová, Marie Mrázová, Jindřich Jindrák, Marta Bohácová, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Bohumil Gregor, Supraphon, recorded Zofin Hall, Prague, June 1969. Label: HMV; EMI CD reissue 2011 * 1974: Magda Olivero, Jeda Valtriani,
Nicola Zaccaria Nicola Zaccaria (9 March 1923 – 24 July 2007), born Nicholas Angelos Zachariou was a Greek bass. Career Born in Piraeus, Zaccaria studied at the Athens Conservatory where he enjoyed his debut in 1949, aged 26. He sang at La Scala in 1953 and h ...
, Margherita Benetti, Giuseppe Morresi, Grace Bumbry, Maria Grazia Allegri, Nella Verri, Silvana Zanolli, Renato Cioni, Jerzy Semkow (Conductor);
La Scala La Scala (, , ; officially , ) is a historic opera house in Milan, Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as (, which previously was Santa Maria della Scala, Milan, a church). The premiere performa ...
Orchestra and Chorus. Recorded at the
Teatro alla Scala La Scala (, , ; officially , ) is a historic opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as (, which previously was a church). The premiere performance was Antonio Salieri's ''Europa r ...
, Milano, 1974. Label: Myto * 1977: Gabriela Beňačková, Nadĕžda Kniplová, Vilém Přibyl, Vladimír Krejčík, Anna Barová, Karel Berman and others; Brno Janáček Opera Chorus, Brno Janáček Opera Orchestra, conducted by František Jílek. Recorded at the Janáček Opera House, Brno, 1977/78. Label: Supraphon 10 2751-2 612, 2CDs * 1980: Soňa Červená, Sena Jurinac,
Willard White Sir Willard Wentworth White, Order of Merit (Jamaica), OM, Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 10 October 1946) is a Jamaican-born British operatic bass baritone. Early life White was born into a Jamaican family in Kingston, Jamaica, Kingst ...
, Elisabeth Söderström, John del Carlo, Gwendolyn Jones, Sara Ganz, Susan Quittmeyer, Pamela South, William Lewis;
San Francisco Opera The San Francisco Opera (SFO) is an American opera company founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola (1881–1953) based in San Francisco, California. History Gaetano Merola (1923–1953) Merola's road to prominence in the Bay Area began in 1906 wh ...
Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Albert Rosen. Recorded at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, October 1, 1980 (as on the accompanying material, but possibly the performance of October 10, which was broadcast). Label: Gala * 1983: Elisabeth Söderström, Wieslaw Ochman, Peter Dvorský, Eva Randová, Václav Zítek, Dalibor Jedlička, Ivana Mixová, Lucia Popp, Marie Mrazová;
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; ) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. Its members are selected from the orchestra of ...
, Vienna State Opera Chorus, conducted by Charles Mackerras, recorded Sofiensaal, Vienna, April 1982. Label:
Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, record label * Decca Gold, classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, musical theater record label * Decca Studios, recording facility in West ...
* 1988: Gabriela Benackova, Leonie Rysanek, Wieslaw Ochman, Peter Kazaras; Opera Orchestra of New York, conducted by Eve Queler. Recorded at Carnegie Hall, March 30, 1988. Label: BIS. * 2002: Karita Mattila, Anja Silja, Eva Randová, Jerry Hadley, Jorma Silvasti; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducted by
Bernard Haitink Bernard Johan Herman Haitink (; 4 March 1929 – 21 October 2021) was a Dutch conductor and violinist. He was the principal conductor of several international orchestras, beginning with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1961. He moved to Lond ...
, recorded at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London, 10–18 October 2001. Label:
Erato Records Erato Records is a record label founded in 1953 as Erato Disques S.A. by Philippe Loury to promote French classical music. Loury was head of éditions musicales Costallat. His first releases in France were licensed from the Haydn Society of Bo ...
* 2003: Elizabeth Vaughan, Dame Josephine Barstow, Janice Watson, Peter Wedd, Nigel Robson, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras. Recorded at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, United Kingdom, July 2003. Label: Chandos * 2009: Amanda Roocroft, Deborah Polaski, Miroslav Dvorský, Nikolai Schukoff, Mette Ejsing, Károly Szemerédy, Miguel Sola, Marta Mathéu, Marta Ubieta, Elena Poesina; Teatro Real Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Ivor Bolton; Stage Director: Stéphane Braunschweig. Recorded at the Teatro Real, Madrid, 2009. Label: Opus Arte (DVD) * 2014: Gal James (Jenůfa), Iris Vermillion (Kostelnička Buryjovka), Dunja Vejzović (Stařenka Buryjovka), Aleš Briscein (Laca Klemeň), Taylan Reinhard (Števa Buryja) and others, Choir and Singschul' of the Graz Opera, Graz Philharmonic Orchestra,
Dirk Kaftan Dirk Kaftan (born 1971) is a German opera and concert conductor. Career Born in Marburg, West Germany, Kaftan grew up in Wittlich and Canada. At the age of 18 he began employment as a repetiteur at the Theater Trier. Kaftan then studied sound ...
, conductor, recorded live during staged performances at Graz Opera, Graz, Austria, 7, 17, 21 – 22 May 2014; Oehms Classics OC 962; 2 CDs


References

Notes Sources * * Holden, Amanda (Ed.) (2001), ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam. * * Tyrrell, John (2007)
''Janáček: Years of a Life: (1914-1928) Tsar of the Forests''
Vol. 2. London: 2007 (Two-volume biography of the composer by the leading authority.) *Štědroň, Miloš (Trans. Ted Whang) (2006), *


External links



(site dead 2021-10-26) {{DEFAULTSORT:Jenufa Czech-language operas Operas by Leoš Janáček Operas 1904 operas Operas based on plays