Leoš Janáček (1854-1928) was
62 when his opera Jenůfa brought him unexpected international recognition in
the early 20th century. It helped to seal his reputation as one of the great
Czech composers alongside Dvořák and Smetana. Welsh National Opera’s powerful
production of this much-loved opera is based on two strong female characters:
Jenůfa and her step-mother Kostelnička; in a story in which they struggle with
secrets, jealousy and the bitterness of past family relationships against the
harsh realities and oppressive intolerance of 19th century village life. It’s a
heart-breaking tale based on the controversial play Her Stepdaughter by
Gabriela Preissová. The play and the opera very much reflect life in and around
the villages Moravia and takes inspiration from folk tales and themes of the
time. The play caused scandal for its realism and brutality at its premiere in
1890, so much so that Preissová was reluctant for Janáček to set the story to
music. Like Preissová, Janáček had been inspired by Moravian and Slavic folk
stories and music all his musical life and felt that Her Stepdaughter would be
the perfect story for an opera that could incorporate these influences.
Janáček was fairly faithful
to the play in the libretto for Jenůfa but he did make some changes in order to
maintain dramatic pace – such as the omission of the thwarted back-story of
Kostelnička, Jenůfa’s step-mother, which does shed light on why she perhaps
behaves as she does to Jenůfa, and as the play’s title suggests – it is the
step-mother who is the main protagonist not Jenůfa.
WNO’s production of Janáček’s
Jenůfais both captivating and critically acclaimed with its wonderfully
simple setting and enduring themes of love, despair and redemption. The opera’s
success for Janáček was also tinged with sadness for the composer. He completed
the opera as his beloved daughter Olga was on her deathbed. She died just
before its premiere in Brno
in 1904 and Janáček dedicated Jenůfa to his daughter’s memory.