Eternal life for the downtrodden? A Janáček double bill in Brno

From the House of the Dead

Eduard Martynyuk, Kateřina Kněžíková, Gianluca Zampieri and Josef Škarka

Roman Hoza and Pavol Kubáň

Roman Hoza

Glagolitic Mass

From the House of the Dead

By Gianmarco Segato, 07 November 2022

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“it sends a powerful message of forgiveness and hope”

Reviewed at Janáček Theatre (Janáčkovo divadlo), Brno on 6 November 2022

Janáček, From the House of the Dead

Janáček, Glagolitic Mass

Janáček Opera NTB

Jakub Hrůša, Conductor

Jiří Heřman, Director, Lighting Designer

Tomáš Rusín, Set Designer

Zuzana Štefunková-Rusínová, Costume Designer

National Theatre Brno Janáček Opera Orchestra

National Theatre Brno Janáček Opera Chorus

Roman Hoza, Alexandr Petrovič Gorjančikov

Gianluca Zampieri, Luka Kuzmič (Filka Morozov)

Peter Berger, Skuratov, Tenor

Pavol Kubáň, Šiškov

Lukáš Bařák, Small prisoner, Čekunov

Jan Šťáva, Prison governor, Bass

Jarmila Balážová, Aljeja, Mezzo-soprano

Zbigniew Malak, Big prisoner/Nikita, Voice

Eduard Martynyuk, Šapkin, Drunk prisoner, Tenor

Vít Nosek, Prisoner with the eagle, Kedril, Čerevin

Petr Levíček, Elderly prisoner

Tadeáš Hoza, Prisoner as Don Juan and Brahmin

Josef Škarka, Priest, Baritone

Kornél Mikecz, Cook

Jana Hrochová, Prostitute, Mezzo-soprano

Vilém Cupák, First guard

Kateřina Kněžíková, Soprano

Michal Heriban, Actor

Pharaonic spectacle: Aida in Moravia

John Johnston, 10th April

A night of Egyptian musical and scenic splendour.

****1

Miraculous Makropulos Case debuts in Asia

Carla Escoda, 25th February

National Theatre Brno brings David Radok’s 2014 staging of Janáček’s Makropulos Case to the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the opera's first-ever journey to Asia, with Annalena Persson in the lead.

****1

Jenůfa breaks hearts in Brno

David Karlin, 18th October

In Brno, Janáček's home, at the theatre and festival that bear his name, Jenůfa receives a performance with all the musical and dramatic intensity you might wish for.

****1

Revival of Ostrčil’s The Legend of Erin misses the mark in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 16th October

An ambitious effort to honor hometown hero Otakar Ostrčil sags under its own weight at the Prague National Theatre.

***11

A disappointing new Dvořák Armida at the Prague National Theatre

Frank Kuznik, 19th May

Armida offers a compelling story, resonant issues and the spectacle of dueling wizards – but unfortunately, not in this production.

***11

Unbearable injustice: Prague State Opera's hard-hitting Butterfly

David Karlin, 16th January

Jiři Herman’s staging is authentically Japanese and focuses on the deliberate injustice of Butterfly's treatment, with strong performances in the lead roles.

***11

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Gianmarco Segato

Arts writer, administrator and singer Gianmarco Segato is Assistant Editor for La Scena Musicale. He was Associate Artist Manager for opera at Dean Artists Management and, from 2017-2022, Editorial Director of Opera Canada magazine. Previous to that he was Adult Programs Manager with the Canadian Opera Company. Gianmarco is an intrepid classical music traveler with a special love of Prague and Budapest as well as an avid cyclist and cook.

Eternal life for the downtrodden? From the House of the Dead and the Glagolitic Mass in Brno