A bleak Jenůfa from Calixto Bieito

Alžběta Poláčková (Jenůfa), Aleš Briscein (Laca)

Alžběta Poláčková (Jenůfa), Rosie Aldridge (Kostelnička), Aleš Briscein (Laca)

Alžběta Poláčková (Jenůfa), Aleš Briscein (Laca), Magdaléna Hebousse (Barena)

Martin Šrejma (Števa), Aleš Briscein (Laca)

Eva Urbanová (Stařenka)

By Frank Kuznik, 23 May 2025

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“Bieito offers an offensive, dysfunctional family that you hope will never move in next door”

Reviewed at National Theatre (Národní divadlo), Prague on 22 May 2025

Janáček, Jenůfa

Prague National Theatre Opera

Štefan Veselka, Conductor

Calixto Bieito, Director

Anna-Sofia Kirsch, Set Designer

Paula Keiller, Costume Designer

Prague National Theatre Orchestra

Prague National Theatre Chorus

Beno Blachut, Dramaturgy

Alžběta Poláčková, Jenůfa

Rosie Aldridge, Kostelnička

Dana Burešová, Kostelnička

Martin Šrejma, Števa Buryja

Aleš Briscein, Laca Klemeň

Eva Urbanová, Grandmother Buryjovka

Magdaléna Hebousse, Barena

Michaela Zajmi, Pastuchyňa

Zdeněk Plech, Mayor

Maria Kobielska, Mayor's wife

Marie Šimůnková, Jano

Ekaterina Krovateva, Karolka

Jiří Hájek, Stárek, Mill foreman

Prague National Theatre Opera Ballet

Lukáš Kozubík, Choirmaster / chorus director

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Frank Kuznik, 23rd April

A vintage opera at the National Theatre offers charming adventures for children and musical sophistication for adults.

*****

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Frank Kuznik, 26th March

Timo Riihonen and Ester Pavlů stand out in a strong cast which carries Andreas Homoki's revised version of Wagner's final opera.

****1

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Dominic Lowe, 4th March

Smetana in Prague is never likely to be less than a delight, and the National Theatre assembles a fine cast for a revival of Alice Nellis' production of his greatest opera.

****1

In Prague, a high-minded new Rheingold never gets off the ground

Frank Kuznik, 12th February

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***11

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David Karlin, 15th January

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*****

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Frank Kuznik, 16th October

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

***11

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.