The fall season offers two Czech operas that will be on show: Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka will be performed in Ithaca Opera, and Lyric Opera House in Chicago will have Leoš Janáček's Jenůfa in the program. Jenůfa will be conducted by Jakub Hrůša and will feature famous Czech tenor Pavel Černoch.
Lyric Opera of Chicago: Jenůfa by Leoš Janáček
Performing Janáček’s magnificent score at Lyric Opera of Chicago will be an enthralling cast led by two of the finest dramatic sopranos of our time: opera’s newest superstar, Lise Davidsen, and the legendary Nina Stemme, Lyric’s sensational Elektra in 2019. Czech maestro Jakob Hrůša will bring unique authenticity to this unforgettable music, leading Claus Guth’s mesmerizing production, and the performance will also feature famous Czech tenor Pavel Černoch.
Leoš Janáček’s Jenůfa is a dark and stunning masterpiece, both musically and dramatically. In this profoundly moving story, the Kostelnička secretly drowns her foster-daughter Jenůfa’s illegitimate child, hoping to save Jenůfa — and herself — from shame and humiliation. When the murder is discovered, the Kostelnička accepts the consequences, but Jenůfa ends the opera with hope for the future.
Language: Sung in Czech with projected English titles
Conducted by: Jakub Hrůša
Performances: Sunday, November 12 at 2 PM, Wednesday, November 15 at 2 PM, Saturday, November 18 at 7:30 PM, Tuesday, November 21 at 7 PM and Sunday, November 26 at 2 PM
Lyric invites you to use promo code CZECH20 for 20% savings off all performances.
Use promo code CZECH40 for 40% savings off the November 15th performance and confirm your attendance for the post-show celebration here.
Get your tickets through this link: https://www.lyricopera.org/jenufa
2023 Opera Ithaca Festival: Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák
In a world where being different means that you cannot love who you love, to what lengths will you go change yourself? Antonín Dvořák's fairytale opera, which loosely resembles the plot of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, dives into the depths of longing of the young water sprite, Rusalka, who will sell her soul for love.
Conducted by: Daniel Kleinknecht
Performances: Friday, November 10, 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 12, 2:00 PM
More about the performance and tickets here: https://www.operaithaca.org/
DANIEL KLEINKNECHT
Conductor and Artistic Director As founder of Cedar Rapids Opera 25 years ago, Daniel has led the company in performances of major operatic repertoire. Under his leadership the company has established a nationally-recognized Young Artist Program. He has conducted the Long Bay Symphony, Evansville Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Illinois, Cedar Rapids Symphony, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Singers, and several national tours of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. The Peoria Journal wrote,“with Kleinknecht at the podium, the sound was wonderfully hall-filling and alive with exceptional power and grace.” The Myrtle Beach Press said “what was most impressive was Kleinknecht . . . he controlled every aspect of the music.”
Kleinknecht has been a Conducting Fellow at the Aspen Music School and at Quebec’s Domaine Forget, and holds music degrees from Oberlin College, Indiana University, and the University of Iowa where he conducted performances of the Opera Theatre and the Center for New Music. He is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music, and has had articles published in the American Choral Review and the Choral Journal.
