Leos Janácek
Dir. Tom Cairns
Conductor. Aleksander Markovic

The 1904 story of Leos Janácek’s Jenufa would not look out of place in an Eastender’s Christmas special. Pregnant out of wedlock, Jenufa is caught up in a love-triangle between the flaxen-haired Števa who she loves, and the dark, brooding Laca who loves her. Orphaned Jenufa’s woeful tale enters its climax when she discovers, at her own wedding, that her foster mother has drowned her baby. Slow at times but set to a beautiful score, Jenufa’s lyrics and stunning set will have you moved as you have never quite been moved before.

Tom Cairns returns to Opera North this year to direct Jenufa after previously directing The Makropulos Case, another of Janácek’s Czech operas. The original direction for Cairns’ Jenufa was devised 20 years prior to this performance, yet arranged with a new set and with the exceptional talent of Ylva Kihlberg in the title role. Kihlberg’s Jenufa is meek yet strong with a powerful voice which really does hit you deep down in all the feels you’ve never managed to feel before. Often though, Jenufa’s character falls slightly flat and limp as she constantly blames and scolds herself to the point of audience eye rolling. When will this girl give up? Luckily Jenufa’s dampness of character is saved by the likes of David Butt Phillip’s incredible Laca and the tortured, calculating Kostelnicka, Jenufa’s foster mother, performed by the mesmerising Susan Bickley.

The opening scene is striking thanks to the stunning sparse and minimalistic set of a slanted white stage, green backdrop and the bare white tree branch which cuts through the seemingly pleasant village scenes, foretelling what is to come. The colours shift between the III acts from the fresh and hopeful green of act I, to the brooding blue of the sad and heart wrenching Act II and finally to stark white where the tragic and dramatic narrative reaches its disastrous climax. The contemporary set, designed by director Cairns, is a sight to behold and a testament to the world class reputation of Opera North.

Jenufa is a great place to begin for any opera novice. Opera North offer student tickets for the incredible price of £10 to see world class performers, directors and the best set designers in the industry at work. Jenufa is also a fairly accessible opera, sung in English and with a story that is easy to follow and relate to, I suggest bagging a ticket to this tragic masterpiece while you can.

Hayley Reid

Image: Richard H Smith