Janacek – Jenufa (Grigorian, Mattila, ROH) (320kbps .mp3)

Janacek's Jenufa from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, starring Asmik Grigorian, Karita Mattila, Nicky Spence and Saimir Pirgu, and conducted by Henrik Nánási, in a new production by Claus Guth.

Set in a small-minded, claustrophobic rural community, Jenufa is a drama of love and sacrifice in which the mother-daughter relationship of Jenufa and the Kostelnicka takes centre stage. In a morally complex plot we come to realise that the unbending, dogmatic Kostelnicka is in fact the one character ready to step outside the harsh rules of her society, committing one of the most horrific crimes in order to give her daughter a chance in life.

Asmik Grigorian is Jenůfa in her Royal Opera House debut and Karita Mattila is the Kostelnička; with Hungarian conductor Henrik Nánási conducting.

Recorded live at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
Presented by Kate Molleson in conversation with Czech opera expert Nigel Simeone; including interviews with Asmik Grigorian, Karita Mattila and Henrik Nánási




Jenufa.......Asmik Grigorian (soprano)
Kostelnicka Buryjovka.......Karita Mattila (soprano)
Laca Klemen.......Nicky Spence (tenor)
Števa Buryja.......Saimir Pirgu (tenor)
Grandmother Buryjovka.......Elena Zilio (mezzo-soprano)
Foreman.......David Stout (baritone)
Mayor.......Jeremy White (bass)
Mayor's Wife.......Helene Schneiderman (mezzo-soprano)
Karolka.......Jacquelyn Stucker (soprano)
Herdswoman.......Angela Simkin (mezzo-soprano)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor.......Henrik Nánási

* 1830 Act 1
* 1920 Interval (including artist interviews)
* 1935 Act 2
* 2025 Interval (including artist interviews)
* 2040 Act 3
* 2120 Ends

Broadcast: 23 October 2021, BBC Radio 3

PICTURED: Asmik, Grigorian (Jenufa) (c) ROH 2021, Photo: Tristram Kenton.