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The production by one of the world's best opera directors, Robert Carsen, had a successful premiere at the Janáček Brno Festival 2016. His productions, with their outstanding individual poetics, dramaturgical restraint and emotional, lively and extremely impressive theatre, have been in the repertoire of the most important opera houses for many years, be it La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Glyndebourne Festival in England or the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Káťa Kabanová is one of Carsen's five productions of Janáček's operas and was originally created for the Flemish Opera. Since its premiere, it has been performed in more than 20 opera houses around the world and it is no wonder that the production with its impressive scenography, where the water surface covers the entire stage and reflects Káťa's emotions and tragic fate, is one of Carsen's best works.

Bedřich Smetana originally thought of a comic opera with librettist Eliška Krásnohorská. In the end, while composing his last completed opera, the composer found moments in the romantic text, inspired by an old legend about a wall of stones built by the devil on the river by the Vyšehrod monastery, that gave the whole story a different tone. Smetana's isolation in Jabkenice and his dismal health and depression were reflected in the individual characters, and the comicalness was replaced by the depth of their feelings. The humor did not disappear either, but it is combined with the desire for love, life wisdom, melancholy and devilish temptation, so that the main tone was a celebration of love, loyalty and dedication.

Is Verdi's famous Nabucco just an opera about the desire for freedom? Jiří Heřman's production offers an engaging look at the story of the Babylonian king and the Jewish nation. It focuses on family relationships and King Nebuchadnezzar himself. The opera, full of magnificent choirs and captivating singing parts, has been one of the most popular titles in our repertoire for 35 years.

After the successful production of Handel's Alcina, director Jiří Heřman and I will set out to discover the beauties of Mozart's music and his opera, which enjoys unwavering popularity all over the world. And it is no wonder, because The Marriage of Figaro, in addition to brilliant and sparkling music that will sweep you away with its unceasing flow similar to a mountain stream, also boasts an almost dramatic libretto. And how could it not, when the basis for Da Ponte was the play of the same name by the outstanding French playwright Pierre de Beaumarchais.

Daddy, how is a bride sold? How did you come to know that someone would sell a bride, Hurvínek? Well, I read here: The National Theatre in Brno is performing Bedřich Smetana's opera The Bartered Bride. So how is it, Daddy? Well, you know, it's just like... how should I put it to you... it's a trick to buy a bride for yourself. So now I'm a fool - is it being sold or bought? You know what, Hurvajz, take Žeryk and Mánička and we'll go to the opera, it'll be easier than explaining it to you!

Daddy, how is a bride sold? How did you come to know that someone would sell a bride, Hurvínek? Well, I read here: The National Theatre in Brno is performing Bedřich Smetana's opera The Bartered Bride. So how is it, Daddy? Well, you know, it's just like... how should I put it to you... it's a trick to buy a bride for yourself. So now I'm a fool - is it being sold or bought? You know what, Hurvajz, take Žeryk and Mánička and we'll go to the opera, it'll be easier than explaining it to you!

Would you also like to know what it's like to sell a bride? Smetana's The Bartered Bride is one of the iconic opera pieces, but this time we decided to bring it closer to children in particular. And because comic opera should really be fun, the members of the Janáček Opera NdB have invited the best possible guides to join them. In the new family program, the famous puppet characters Spejbl, Hurvínek and Mánička will take you directly to The Bartered Bride and the world of opera. Žeryk will also be present, as will the best musical pieces, because the popular puppets will be assisted by the soloists of the Janáček Opera NdB together with our special Smetana mini-orchestra.

Workshop for 1st – 5th grade elementary school What, but especially who, is needed to create an opera performance? And what would it be like if children became set designers, costume designers, or even an orchestra for a while? We will find out together at the workshop How to Make an Opera! So what will we experience together: Getting to know the opera genre and some opera works. We will find out who works in the opera. We will try out some professions. We will learn selected theatrical terms. We will sing.

Where did opera originate? What is a libretto? Who is a stage manager? And what does a set designer need to know? You will learn this and much more at our workshop. Participants will learn about the opera genre, the process of creating a production, the operation of the theatre and the professions that work in the theatre. It also includes a taste of opera singing. Participants will experience several activities that will give them a glimpse into the workings of an opera theatre, the opera genre and its demands. The workshop also includes a short tour of the Janáček Theatre.

We are from Bohemia and you ask if we can sing? An unknown couple from abroad arrives in a small Czech village and most of the locals watch them with distrust. Only the old teacher Benda, a music lover, opens his door to them, only to discover that the foreigners are closer to them than they might seem.

The composer found inspiration for the work, which premiered in 1924, during his trip to the island of Sicily, a place rich in monuments of ancient and oriental culture and early Christian art. Perhaps this is why the historical figure of King Roger II, who ruled here in the 12th century and at whose court Christian and Arab culture and philosophy intertwined, became the center of Szymanowski's opera. Likewise, thanks to the composer's fascination with antiquity and the exoticism of the Orient, elements of not only Impressionism but also Arabic music are reflected in his music.

A human soul, a pure human soul! The water fairy Rusalka longs for life above the water, for love and a human soul. The Witch knows the way, but the price is high – Rusalka loses the ability to speak, but what good is speech if she is just a wave on the surface for her beloved prince... However, the world of people turns out to be cruel and full of betrayal, which even her pure love cannot overcome.

Take a look behind the scenes of the upcoming production before its official premiere. The preview offers a unique opportunity to meet the creative team and soloists of the opera Agrippina and learn more about how the production is created - from the first rehearsals to the final appearance on stage. She always knew what she wanted and to get it, she did not shy away from murder. Now Agrippina is the empress and once again faces the choice of whom she must sacrifice in order to achieve the imperial title for her son Nero. But in the equally ambitious Poppaea, Agrippina encounters an equal opponent...

Bedřich Smetana originally thought of a comic opera with librettist Eliška Krásnohorská. In the end, while composing his last completed opera, the composer found moments in the romantic text, inspired by an old legend about a wall of stones built by the devil on the river by the Vyšehrod monastery, that gave the whole story a different tone. Smetana's isolation in Jabkenice and his dismal health and depression were reflected in the individual characters, and the comicalness was replaced by the depth of their feelings. The humor did not disappear either, but it is combined with the desire for love, life wisdom, melancholy and devilish temptation, so that the main tone was a celebration of love, loyalty and dedication.

Would you also like to know what it's like to sell a bride? Smetana's The Bartered Bride is one of the iconic opera pieces, but this time we decided to bring it closer to children in particular. And because comic opera should really be fun, the members of the Janáček Opera NdB have invited the best possible guides to join them. In the new family program, the famous puppet characters Spejbl, Hurvínek and Mánička will take you directly to The Bartered Bride and the world of opera. Žeryk will also be present, as will the best musical pieces, because the popular puppets will be assisted by the soloists of the Janáček Opera NdB together with our special Smetana mini-orchestra.

Would you also like to know what it's like to sell a bride? Smetana's The Bartered Bride is one of the iconic opera pieces, but this time we decided to bring it closer to children in particular. And because comic opera should really be fun, the members of the Janáček Opera NdB have invited the best possible guides to join them. In the new family program, the famous puppet characters Spejbl, Hurvínek and Mánička will take you directly to The Bartered Bride and the world of opera. Žeryk will also be present, as will the best musical pieces, because the popular puppets will be assisted by the soloists of the Janáček Opera NdB together with our special Smetana mini-orchestra.

Would you also like to know what it's like to sell a bride? Smetana's The Bartered Bride is one of the iconic opera pieces, but this time we decided to bring it closer to children in particular. And because comic opera should really be fun, the members of the Janáček Opera NdB have invited the best possible guides to join them. In the new family program, the famous puppet characters Spejbl, Hurvínek and Mánička will take you directly to The Bartered Bride and the world of opera. Žeryk will also be present, as will the best musical pieces, because the popular puppets will be assisted by the soloists of the Janáček Opera NdB together with our special Smetana mini-orchestra.

Perhaps none of the participants in the Venetian premiere, which was a devastating fiasco, believed that they had just witnessed the birth of one of the most popular and most performed Italian operas. Verdi found a theme close to him in the novel about the love of the courtesan Violetta and Alfredo, which is not desired by his father or society. He knew the setting well – Paris, a city full of hustle and bustle, was never his favorite, and the tragic story reminded him of his own life experience. For years he had lived in a free union with the soprano Giuseppina Strepponi and felt firsthand the society's opposition to the "illegal" relationship. His personal experience undoubtedly enhanced the understanding and compassion for the main heroine, which permeate the entire opera... The clear lyrical music, where Italian bel canto is closely combined with dramatic expression, added poignancy to the tragic love story of the famous Parisian courtesan, thus giving rise to an opera evergreen.

The title role will be performed by Pavla Vykopalová, who already celebrated great success with Alcina, and German countertenor Constantin Zimmermann and Czech countertenor Vojtěch Pelka will also be performing for the first time.

The production of Janáček's Fate, which officially opened the Janáček Brno Festival 2020, marks the return of one of the best opera directors, Robert Carsen. This creator of productions valued for their dramatic grasp, poetics and artistic refinement, returns to Janáček's operatic work to expand his Janáček productions with a sixth opera created especially for Janáček's opera NdB. The very first notes of the orchestral waltz from the overture to Fate introduce us to the noble spa society; simple natural prose is replaced here by language in the style of decadent poets, as Janáček was inspired to write this opera by a beautiful woman, twenty-eight-year-old Kamila Urválková, whom the composer met in August 1903 at his favorite spa in Luhačovice.

Director David Radok and his Rusalka as a fateful drama about unfulfilled desires and human failure, about the contradictory conflict between love and erotic desire, a drama about the sinful human soul. Since its creation, Dvořák's Rusalka has been one of the most beloved and performed Czech operas, not only thanks to its beautiful and unique music, but also to the poetic and timeless libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil, which hides endless symbolism. The theme is perfect for David Radok and a multi-layered production full of strong emotions. David Radok's scenography is based on the concept of Rusalka by scenographer Lars-Ake Thessman, presented at GöteborgsOperan in 2012.

Where did opera originate? What is a libretto? Who is a stage manager? And what does a set designer need to know? You will learn this and much more at our workshop. Participants will learn about the opera genre, the process of creating a production, the operation of the theatre and the professions that work in the theatre. It also includes a taste of opera singing. Participants will experience several activities that will give them a glimpse into the workings of an opera theatre, the opera genre and its demands. The workshop also includes a short tour of the Janáček Theatre.

The production of Janáček's Fate, which officially opened the Janáček Brno Festival 2020, marks the return of one of the best opera directors, Robert Carsen. This creator of productions valued for their dramatic grasp, poetics and artistic refinement, returns to Janáček's operatic work to expand his Janáček productions with a sixth opera created especially for Janáček's opera NdB. The very first notes of the orchestral waltz from the overture to Fate introduce us to the noble spa society; the simple natural prose is replaced here by language in the style of decadent poets, as Janáček was inspired to write this opera by a beautiful woman, twenty-eight-year-old Kamila Urválková, whom the composer met in August 1903 at his favorite spa in Luhačovice. Kamila described to Janáček her love affair with the composer Čelanský, who portrayed his disillusionment with love in the opera Kamila. Janáček fell so much under Kamila's spell that he decided to create a "completely new, modern opera" in which she would be purified. He called Fate not an opera, but three novel-like episodes in which the viewer finds himself in a completely different environment than in his previous operas - after Jenůfí, Janáček's fourth opera Fate represents a musical and dramaturgical breakthrough into another area.

Take a Step Behind the Curtain with us. A program designed for all curious people, young and old, who want to learn something new from the world of opera theater. 70 minutes of interactive, adventurous and, above all, fun journey into the heart of opera productions with soloists, choir and orchestra of Janáček's opera NdB. The educational program is suitable for secondary schools. A Step Behind the Curtain is an ideal program connecting music education with Czech or aesthetics.

Director David Radok and his Rusalka as a fateful drama about unfulfilled desires and human failure, about the contradictory conflict between love and erotic desire, a drama about the sinful human soul. Since its creation, Dvořák's Rusalka has been one of the most beloved and performed Czech operas, not only thanks to its beautiful and unique music, but also to Jaroslav Kvapil's poetic and timeless libretto, which conceals endless symbolism. The theme seems to be made for David Radok and a multi-layered production full of strong emotions.

At the beginning was a short novella by the French writer Prosper Merimée about Don José, who deserted the army due to a foolish passion for a wild gypsy woman, became a smuggler and a murderer. Carmen, directed by Tomáš Pilar, returns to the original story and reveals additional layers of individual characters - the characters here are mainly people who came from completely different backgrounds. It is not just about Carmen's fleeting and unbridled love, which the jealous José cannot cope with. It is a clash of two worlds - the orderly, neat world of José and Micaëla, bound by predetermined rules, and the world of gypsies and smugglers living from day to day, without laws and controlled by momentary impulses. Their worlds suddenly intersect, but this difference causes tension and a clash that leads to the complete destruction of both of them. Neither of them is able to prevent it, because neither is willing or able to back down.

Bedřich Smetana originally thought of a comic opera with librettist Eliška Krásnohorská. In the end, while composing his last completed opera, the composer found moments in the romantic text, inspired by an old legend about a wall of stones built by the devil on the river by the Vyšehrod monastery, that gave the whole story a different tone. Smetana's isolation in Jabkenice and his dismal health and depression were reflected in the individual characters, and the comicalness was replaced by the depth of their feelings. The humor did not disappear either, but it is combined with the desire for love, life wisdom, melancholy and devilish temptation, so that the main tone was a celebration of love, loyalty and dedication.

Workshop for 1st – 5th grade elementary school What, but especially who, is needed to create an opera performance? And what would it be like if children became set designers, costume designers, or even an orchestra for a while? We will find out together at the workshop How to Make an Opera! So what will we experience together: Getting to know the opera genre and some opera works. We will find out who works in the opera. We will try out some professions. We will learn selected theatrical terms. We will sing.

Would you also like to know what it's like with the bride seller? Smetana's The Bartered Bride is one of the iconic opera pieces, but this time we decided to bring it closer to children in particular. And because comic opera should really be fun, the members of the Janáček Opera NdB ensemble have invited the best possible guides to join them. In the new family program, you will be taken directly to The Bartered Bride and the world of opera by the famous puppet characters Spejbl, Hurvínek and Mánička. Žeryk will not be missing either, and the best musical pieces will also be included, because the popular puppets will be assisted by the soloists of the Janáček Opera NdB together with our special Smetana mini-orchestra.

Would you also like to know what it's like with the bride seller? Smetana's The Bartered Bride is one of the iconic opera pieces, but this time we decided to bring it closer to children in particular. And because comic opera should really be fun, the members of the Janáček Opera NdB ensemble have invited the best possible guides to join them. In the new family program, you will be taken directly to The Bartered Bride and the world of opera by the famous puppet characters Spejbl, Hurvínek and Mánička. Žeryk will not be missing either, and the best musical pieces will also be included, because the popular puppets will be assisted by the soloists of the Janáček Opera NdB together with our special Smetana mini-orchestra.

Workshop for 1st – 5th grade elementary school What, but especially who, is needed to create an opera performance? And what would it be like if children became set designers, costume designers, or even an orchestra for a while? We will find out together at the workshop How to Make an Opera! So what will we experience together: Getting to know the opera genre and some opera works. We will find out who works in the opera. We will try out some professions. We will learn selected theatrical terms. We will sing.

Interactive workshop for parents and children – ideal as a first encounter with theatre, opera music and theatre creation. At the workshop we will reveal what “opera” is all about — we will introduce participants to the opera genre, introduce professions (scenographer, director, singers…). Children and their parents will learn basic theatre terms and get a glimpse into the workings of an opera theatre. We will also take a look behind the scenes, try on theatre costumes and also meet a soprano who will show us how she works with her voice and sing just for us. The workshop is suitable for children attending the 2nd grade of primary school. The workshop takes place mainly in the foyer of the Janáček Theatre – enter through the main entrance, where the lecturer will pick up the participants.