Czech composer LeoÅ¡ Jan¡cekâs most famous opera, Jenufa is a harrowing tale of forbidden love, abandonment, hypocrisy, desperation, and tragic infanticide. As todayâs second most frequently performed Czech opera (following Dvor¡kâs Rusalka), Jenufa holds a prominent place in international opera repertoire and continues to draw the attention of new audiences. Drawing on both scholarly studies and production experience, Timothy Cheek presents an original English-language translation of the original Czech libretto. As with the first two books in the Jan¡cek Opera Libretti series (Prhody liÅ¡ky BystrouÅ¡ky, The Cunning Little Vixen and K¡tâa Kabanov¡), this volume consists of two parts. Part One gives background on the opera, a discussion about the various voice types and roles, Jan¡cekâs style and Czech performance traditions, Czech folk costumes, and a summary of Czech pronunciation and inflection. Part Two provides the original Czech libretto, word-for-word English translations, idiomatic English translations, IPA for pronunciation of the Czech, translations of the stage directions, and notes about certain words in Czech dialect. As a valuable resource not only for performers and directors, but also historians and opera lovers, this book brings new accessibility to a beloved and timeless opera.
Industry Reviews
An invaluable resource for any singer or coach studying Jenufa. Timothy Cheek is a master Czech specialist and this is a throughly comprehensive exploration into the pronunciation and comprehension of the plot and text of Janacek's masterpiece. This is a book that should be in every singer's library as they prepare for a production of Jenufa. -- Sean Panikkar, renowned international tenor
Timothy Cheek's books have been indispensable for me at every stage of learning a part, from the initial encounter with the diction and background of the piece to the mastering the finer points of interpretation. The precision with which he approaches the subject is staggering, and I consult the books over and over; I would not travel to a production without them! In opening the Czech repertoire to English speakers Timothy Cheek has made an invaluable contribution, one crucial to my career. What is more, the love for the music underlying his scholarship has been a source of inspiration.
With the "Jenufa" volume, Timothy Cheek sheds light on one of the most moving and beautiful operas ever written. I am sure singers, teachers, coaches, anybody who loves this music will benefit greatly from it. -- Dina Kuznetsova, soprano, internationally acclaimed opera singer and recitalist
Timothy Cheek's word-for-word translations and IPA of Jenufa have been very helpful in preparing for our production at San Francisco Opera! -- Gregory Henkel, Director of Artistic and Music Planning, San Francisco Opera
