Edvard Grieg – The Mountain Maid (Haugtussa)
Leoš Janáček – The Diary of One Who Disappeared (premiéra)
Director: Rocc
Mezzo-soprano: Juliette Galstian
Tenor: Aleš Briscein
Piano: Sára Medková
These intimate rural love stories are the works of Edvard Hagerup Grieg and Leoš Janáček . Grieg’s eight-part song cycle The Mountain Maid (Haugtussa), op. 67 was written at the end of the 19th century and was based on a collection of poetry of the same name by the Norwegian writer Arne Garborg, in which the first romantic experiences of a simple shepherdess intertwine with mysticism and the symbolism of the spring landscape. Grieg filled each poem with romantic music utilizing the rich onomatopoeia of nature. Janáček’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared tells the story of the love of a village boy for the young Gypsy Zefka. He is so torn by this love that he decides to leave his family and the village. Janáček could relate to the subject matter, which he found in the Lidové novny newspaper in 1916, as he was in love with Kamila Stösslová at the time. The composer used the short poems to create a small chamber drama for tenor, alto, three female voices and piano. The unique expressive emotionality and distinctiveness of Janáček’s music made The Diary of One Who Disappeared an exceptional song cycle of the 20th century.
