Janácek’s opera Káta Kabanová is set in a small Russian town and is based on the play The Storm by Aleksandr Ostrovsky. The story revolves around the central character, Káta – sung by “the phenomenal Corinne Winters” (Neue Musikzeitung) – who is trapped in a loveless marriage to an abusive man named Boris. Despite her unhappiness, she is bound by the strict societal norms of her time and is unable to escape the situation. However, when she meets and falls in love with a young man named Vána Kudrjáš, she finally experiences happiness and passion. But their relationship is short-lived, as Boris finds out and forces Káta to confess her infidelity in front of the entire town. Overwhelmed by the shame and guilt, she drowns herself in the nearby river. The opera explores themes of social conformity, oppression, and the consequences of forbidden love. Janácek’s use of musical leitmotifs and repetitive themes reflect the characters’ emotions and psychological states, adding depth and nuance to the story. Stage director Barrie Kosky managed to create an intimate but impressive setting in the magnificent Felsenreitschule. “Jittery and balletic, ecstatic and anxious, Winters has a child’s volatile presence, and her livewire voice conveys Kát’a’s wonder and vulnerability.” (The New York Times) “Corinne Winters is “Kát’a Kabanova”: a great, luminous longing from head to toe. With director Barrie Kosky and conductor Jakub Hruša, she makes the opera in Salzburg a triumph.” (Der Tagesspiegel)
Martinu Symphony Cycle: Martinu 3 & 6
With the Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4, Jirí Belohlávek and his Czech Philharmonic started the ambitious project of recording the complete Martinu symphonies cycle at the visually and acoustically spectacular Rudolfinum Prague. After the death of his mentor Jirí Belohlávek, who was considered one of the world’s most renowned Martinu experts, rising star conductor Jakub Hruša is going to complete the cycle with performances of Martinu’s Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 6 between March 2018 and January 2019. Hruša has recently been hailed by the New York Times for his “passionate, thrilling” way of presenting his ‘all-Czech’ concert at the BBC Proms.
Martinu Symphony Cycle: Martinu 2
Jirí Belohlávek and his Czech Philharmonic embarked on the ambitious project of recording the complete Martinu symphonies at the visually and acoustically spectacular Rudolfinum Prague, starting with Nos. 1 and 4. After the death of Belohlávek, his pupil Jakub Hruša took over the project, continuing the cycle with Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 6. Praised for his “passionate, thrilling” way of conducting his ‘all-Czech’ BBC Proms concert by the NYT, Hruša is uniquely qualified to face the task of performing the works of Martinu, who is deemed the greatest Czech composer of his generation.
Martinu Symphony Cycle: Martinu No. 5
Jirí Belohlávek and his Czech Philharmonic embarked on the ambitious project of recording the complete Martinu symphonies at the visually and acoustically spectacular Rudolfinum Prague, starting with Nos. 1 and 4. After the death of Belohlávek, his pupil Jakub Hruša took over the project, completing the cycle with Symphony No 5. Praised for his “passionate, thrilling” way of conducting his ‘all-Czech’ BBC Proms concert by the NYT, Hruša is uniquely qualified to face the task of performing the works of Martinu, who is deemed the greatest Czech composer of his generation.
Wiener Philharmoniker: Jakub Hrusa conducts Kodaly, Bartok, Dvorak
This edition of the exclusive Vienna Phil subscription concerts, conducted by young conducting superstar Jakub Hrusa, features a carefully and beautifully selected programme of Czech and Hungarian music: Hrusa seizes every opportunity to derive additional bursts of energy from the rhythm and tension of the music, savours melodic developments and spurs the Philharmonic on to soloistic high-wire acts. Kodaly’s brilliance, Bartok’s fascinating motor skills, Dvorak’s picturesque fairy-tale sounds, Janacek’s austere grandeur: an opulent and haunting combination” (Die Presse). PROGRAM Kodaly: Dances Of Galanta; Bartok: The Miraculous Mandarin; Dvorak: The Wild Dove; Janacek: Taras Bulba (Rhapsody)
Salzburg Festival 2022: Káta Kabanová
Janácek’s opera Káta Kabanová is set in a small Russian town and is based on the play The Storm by Aleksandr Ostrov– sky. The story revolves around the central character, Káta – sung by “the phenomenal Corinne Winters” (Neue Musikzeitung) – who is trapped in a loveless marriage to an abusive man named Boris. Despite her unhappiness, she is bound by the strict societal norms of her time and is unable to escape the situation. However, when she meets and falls in love with a young man named Vána Kudrjáš, she finally experiences happiness and passion. But their relationship is short-lived, as Boris finds out and forces Káta to confess her infidelity in front of the entire town. Overwhelmed by the shame and guilt, she drowns herself in the nearby river. The opera explores themes of social conformity, oppression, and the consequences of forbidden love. Janácek’s use of musical leitmotifs and repetitive themes reflect the characters’ emotions and psychological states, adding depth and nuance to the story. Stage director Barrie Kosky managed to create an intimate but impressive setting in the magnificent Felsenreitschule. “The young Czech conductor Jakub Hruša, highly esteemed by the Wiener Philharmoniker, leads the orchestra with a feeling for the great moments as well as the fine lyricism of the grandiose score. Corinne Winters is thrilling in the title role” (Kronenzeitung)
BBC Proms 2019: Jakub Hruša conducts Dvorák and Smetana
Czech conductor Jakub Hruša returns with two popular masterpieces from his homeland. With its song-like slow movement and irrepressible, folk-infused finale, Dvorák’s Violin Concerto is one of the best-loved in the repertoire. American virtuoso Joshua Bell joins the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra as soloist. Journey through the Czech countryside in the second half with Smetana’s symphonic suite Má vlast – a colourful celebration of a nation’s landscape, castles and warriors, with the sweeping melody of ‘Vltava’ at its heart. “An absolute triumph” (The Daily Telegraph) PROGRAM Dvorák: Violin Concerto; Smetana: Má vlast (‘My Country’)
RCO: Hrusa conducts Schumann, Dvorák and Suk
Yunchan Lim was the youngest ever winner of the legendary Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022. Now, at the age of twenty-one, he is making his Concertgebouw Orchestra debut in Robert Schumann’s one and only Piano Concerto. The dreamy slow movement of this Romantic work is among the most beautiful Schumann ever composed. After the interval, the conductor Jakub Hruša guides us through his native Czech Republic with symphonic poems by two renowned fellow countrymen. In The Wild Dove, Dvorak tells a story full of passion, murder and all-consuming guilt in a village community. When Dvorak died in the spring of 1904, his pupil and son-in-law Josef Suk happened to be working on Prague, a symphonic ode to the city of Prague. The epic work would also become a homage to his mentor. PROGRAM Schumann: Piano Concerto; Dvorak: The Wild Dove; Suk: Prague