Jenufa

Anouk H.H.
Jan 23, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Mar 28, 2024

Jenůfa - an opera in three acts by Leoš Janáček

What I did not expect was being able to directly connect my love and curiosity for languages with my job so actively. Every piece in this season has been in a different language. It makes me think about the effects of studying these pieces and the language learning abilities of the singers. Does it benefit them if they understand the text if they know the direct translation? There is a constant switching between English or German instructions and conversation off stage and then singing a foreign text.

Now that I have gotten into the groove of what the job entails, it has given me the ability to also read up on literature on the pieces and art of opera itself. Jenůfa is a heart wrenching piece, with its music inspired by folk music of the time.

Watching the rehearsals really ensures that the music stays with you, even weeks later.

Once again, there was no present costume designer, so there are little details where I needed to make changes as the ensemble was different from the one that first performed this piece. the size of Romeo et Juliette prepared me well for this one, as there was no choir on stage, meaning they did not need costumes.

Despite this, it did not mean that there were not also challenges that came with it.

Photos by Janosch Abel.