Opera The Storm (opera Katya Kabanova by Leos Janacek in three acts) Mikhailovsky Classical Ballet and Opera Theatre (established 1833)
Running time: 2 hours
The performance has 1 intermission
Schedule for The Storm (opera Katya Kabanova by Leos Janacek in three acts) 2022
Artistic Director: Vladimir Stolpovskikh Composer: Leos Janacek Musical Director: Peter Feranec Principal Chorus Master: Vladimir Stolpovskikh Lighting Designer: Alexander Kibitkin Assistant to Conductor: Valentin Bogdanov
Orchestra: Mikhailovsky Symphony Orchestra
Opera in 3 act
Performed in Czech with Russian supertitles
Premiere of this production: 20 November 2016, Mikhailovsky theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Libretto by the composer after the play by Alexander Ostrovsky The Storm
Musical Director of the production and Conductor: Peter Feranec Stage
Director: Niels-Peter Rudolph Stage Designer: Volker Hintermeier Costume
Designer: Sue Bühler Principal Chorus Master and Artistic Director of
Chorus: Vladimir Stolpovskikh Assistant to Musical Director: Valentin
Bogdanov Director of the revival: Margarita Kunitsyna-Tankevich
Assistants to Director of the revival: Elena Piskunova, Vyacheslav Kalyuzhny
Lighting: Alexander Kibitkin Principal Pianist: Marc Vayner
Pianists: Maria Kopyseva, Maria Mikirtumova Chorus Masters: Alexey
Dmitriev, Sergey Tsyplenkov Czech Language Consultant: Elena
Kolomiytseva Stage Manager: Olga Kokh
Premiere at the Mikhailovsky Theatre: 16 December 2010 Revival of the
production: 20 November 2016
Leos Janacek’s opera, which was performed several times during the theatre’s
178th season under the title Katya Kabanova, returns with a new title and a new
look at the well-known plot. The opera has been invariably successful with
foreign audiences for almost a century, but remains a rare visitor to Russian
theatres. In fact, Janacek, one of the most important operatic composers of the
first half of the twentieth century, is often called the most Russian of
European composers, though it is hard to find traces of Russian folklore in his
music. What makes him ‘Russian’ is that his sensual female characters are
inspired by classic Russian literature and can be compared with Liza in The
Queen of Spades and Katerina Izmailova in Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk
District.
Synopsis
Act I Scene 1
A small Russian town, sometime in the 1920’s. The young teacher Ván’a
Kudrjás’ rhapsodizes over the afternoon view of the Volga, to the amusement of
the literal-minded housekeeper of the adjoining Kabanov home. They see two men
approaching — the overbearing merchant Dikoj and his nephew, Boris Grigorjevic’
. When the merchant discovers that Kabanicha, matriarch of the Kabanov family,
is not at home, he stalks off, leaving Boris to explain to his friend Ván’a why
he puts up with such abuse: his parents are dead, and in order to collect his
inheritance, he must treat his uncle with respect. And he confesses that he is
secretly in love with Kát’a, the young wife of Kabanicha’s son, Tichon. The two
men depart as old Kabanicha and members of her household return from vespers.
Kabanicha berates her son for his lack of attentiveness. He tries to please her.
At a sharp reply from Kabanicha, he and his wife Kát’a try to tell the old woman
they love and respect her. Tichon’s temper snaps at being told he spoils his
wife. Tichon complains to Varvara, foster daughter of the family, who retorts he
would rather drink and forget his troubles than stand up for Kát’a’s rights.
Scene 2
Kát’a tells Varvara how free and happy she felt as a child, constantly
dreaming. Even now, she admits, she has dreamed of having a lover. Before she
can say more about the man who attracts her, Tichon comes to say good-bye: he is
leaving on a short trip to Kazan at his mother’s behest. Kát’a begs him not to
go or else to take her along, but he refuses. When she asks him to make her
swear to speak to no strangers during his absence, he wonders what is wrong with
her. Kabanicha announces that it is time to leave, adding that Tichon must tell
his wife how to behave while he is gone. Tichon dutifully repeats that Kát’a
must treat Kabanicha like her own mother and always act with propriety. Then he
bows to his mother, kisses her and Kát’a and hurries away.
Act II Scene 3
Kabanicha criticizes Kát’a for not making an ordinary display of grief over
Tichon’s absence. After she has left, Varvara shows Kát’a the key to the far
part of the garden: she plans to meet her lover there and hints that Kát’a might
want to do the same, giving the key suddenly to her. Kát’a hesitates but decides
that fate has willed it: she is going to meet Boris. She steps outside.
Kabanicha reenters with the drunken Dikoj, who says she is the only person he
can talk to. He ended up on his knees, blubbering, asking Kabanicha for a
servile sort of love. She primly tells him to get hold of himself and that he
should come back later.
Scene 4
Waiting for Varvara, Ván’a amuses himself with a song about an
independent-minded young girl like his sweetheart. To his surprise, Boris
appears, having received a message to come there. Varvara arrives, cheerfully
picking up Ván’a’s song, and they head down to the river. When Kát’a appears,
Boris proclaims his love. She is hesitant at first, seeing only sin and ruin,
but finally her pent-up feelings pour out, and she embraces him. They too go
down to the river Volga. Ván’a and Varvara return, full of enjoyed love. As the
rapturous voices of the second couple are heard, Ván’a and Varvara satisfied
watch this wonderful night going on.
Act III Scene 5
An approaching storm drives Ván’a and his friend, Kuligin, to a shelter,
where they are joined by other strollers. When Dikoj appears, Ván’a tries to
conciliate him by talking about a new invention, the lightning rod, but this
only angers Dikoj, who insists storms are not electricity but God’s punishment.
When the rain lets up, they all leave the shelter, and Ván’a runs into Boris and
Varvara. The girl reports that Tichon is back, and Kát’a seems very upset.
Kabanicha approaches with Tichon and Kát’a. She only seems frightened by the
returning storm, but she confesses to Tichon in front of everyone that she
dallied with Boris during her husband’s absence. Then she runs out into the
tempest.
Scene 6
As evening approaches, Tichon looks frantically for Kát’a along the river
bank. Varvara and Ván’a decide to escape to Moscow, where they can lead a life
of their own. Kát’a appears, aware that her confession served only to dishonor
her and humiliate Boris. Her life is a constant torment, and she longs to see
her lover one last time. And he appears, surprised to her, and they embrace. He
says he will leave to another town. Her mind wandering, she bids him farewell.
As he walks off, she thinks how nature will renew itself over her grave, then
throws herself into the river. Kuligin sees her jump and calls for help. Tichon
rushes back, followed by Kabanicha, whom he blames for Kát’a’s self-destruction.
Meanwhile, bystanders try to help. When Dikoj brings Kát’a’s body and lays it on
the ground, Tichon flings himself down, sobbing. Coldly, Kabanicha thanks the
bystanders for their assistance.
Schedule for The Storm (opera Katya Kabanova by Leos Janacek in three acts) 2022
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