EVENINGS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC - BAHRAIN - |
PROGRAMME FOR 5 JUNE 2002 |
KÁT'A KABANOVÁ Opera by LEOS JANÁCEK (1854-1928) |
Opera in three acts Libretto: By the composer, after Alexander Nikolayevitch Otrovsky's "The Storm" Premiere: 23 November 1921, Brno |
CAST Kát'a Kabanicha, her mother-in-law Tichon, her husband Boris Váña Kudrjás Varvara Dikoj Glasa Feklusa Kuligin Woman Bystander |
- Nancy Gustafson - Felicity Palmer - Ryland Davies - Barry McCauley - John Graham-Hall - Louise Winter - Donald Adams - Christine Bunning - Linda Ormiston - Robert Poulton - Rachael Hallawell - Christopher Ventris |
The Glyndebourne Chorus and The London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by ANDREW DAVIS |
SYNOPSIS The scene is set in the fictitious town of Kalinov, on the banks of the Volga, in the 1860's ACT 1 On the banks of the Volga Sitting on a bench in the park on the steep banks of the Volga, Váña Kudrjás, teacher, chemist and mechanic, is extolling the beauty of the river to Glasa, a young servant in the Kabanov house, when the rich merchant Savjol Dikoj comes past, roundly cursing his nephew, Boris Grigorjevic. When Dikoj storms off to see Kabanicha (Marfa Kabanová, called Kabanicha, a rich merchant's widow), Kudrjás asks his friend Boris why he puts up with such treatment from his uncle. Boris tells him that he and his sister are orphans and, under their grandmother's will, can only gain access to their inheritance if they obey their uncle until such time as they come of age. Furthermore he confesses that he has fallen in love with Katarina (called Kát'a), the wife of Tichon Kabanov (Kabanicha's son). Just then Kát'a, her bigoted mother-in-law and the latter's foster child come past on their way home from church. The weak-willed Tichon goes off to get drunk. The Kabanovs' house When she returns home, Kát'a tells a sympathetic Varvara about her carefree youth with all its happy dreams, and confesses her hidden, guilty love for another man. When Tichon comes to take his leave and set off on a two-week visit to Kazan at the request of his mother, she wildly embraces him and begs him to take her with him. Tichon, who in 'this prison even next to the most beautiful woman' would do anything to get away from this life, replies that it is not possible. She then demands that he swear an oath that he will not look at or exchange words with another woman while he is away. Tichon refuses, and takes his leave, having - on instructions from his mother - given her humiliating orders and rules on how to behave. . ACT 2 The Kabanovs' house It is late afternoon, and Kát'a, Kabanicha and Varvara are sitting embroidering in a small workroom. Kabanicha accouses Kát'a of not loving Tichon - otherwise she would have spent much longer lamenting his departure. The old woman has hardly gone before Varvara presses the key to the garden gate, which she has stolen from Kabanicha, into the hands of Kát'a. Varvara says she will tell Boris, the man Kát'a loves, to meet her. Kát'a at first strongly resists, wrestling with her conscience, but then gives in and decides to go along with the plan. The garden of the Kabanovs' house Outside the garden gate, Kudrjás and Boris bump into each other. Kudrjás again warns his friend about his love for Kát'a. While Kudrjás and Varvara stroll off to the river, Kát'a emerges from the garden. Boris confesses his love to her and she responds - after some initial hesitation. She is prepared to take the consequences of her infidelity. As dawn breaks, Kundrjás and Varvara call back the pair of lovers. . ACT 3 A ruined building Two weeks have passed. Kudrjás and his friend Kuligin are sheltering from a heavy downpour under the portico of a crumbling building by the Volga. They are joined by Dikoj, who regards the storm as a warning from God. Varvara tells Boris that Kát'a is in a worrying state of confusion since Tichon has returned, and that Kabanicha is already becoming suspicious. Kát'a, terrified by the thunder and lightning, now rushes in. When she is followed by Tichon and Kabanicha, she completely breaks down, falling to her knees and confessing her infidelity before rushing out into the rain. On the banks of the Volga It is dusk, and Tichon, who still loves his wife and has forgiven her, is searching for Kát'a with Glasa. Varvara and Kudrjás are determined to leave and seek happiness together in Moscow. Kát'a now appears. She interprets the sounds in the distance as the river Volga calling to her. She longs for death, and takes her leave of Boris, who is being sent by his uncle on business to Siberia. After he has torn himself away from her, she throws herself into the river. Kuligin, who has seen this act of despair, shouts for help. In his desperation to Tichon finds the courage to turn on his mother and accuse her of murdering Kát'a. Unmoved, Kabanicha formally thanks the people who have retrieved the body of Kát'a for their help. |
Recorded live at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, 1988 Sung in Czech, with English sub-titles Producer: John Miller |
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