Today, the Janáček Opera of the Brno National Theatre presents the premiere of La bohème

11 June 2021, 1:00
Today, the Janáček Opera of the Brno National Theatre presents the premiere of La bohème

The premiere of La bohème has been announced to take place this evening, with Magdalena Švecová as the director and Jakub Klecker as the author of the music production.

The opera season of 2020/2021, reduced in terms of time, will close with the re-scheduled premiere of Verdi’s Nabucco and with the staging of The Barber of Seville to take place at Špilberk Castle; before the two performances, however, the ensemble will premiere Puccini’s La bohème at the Janáček Theatre. The new production is the work of the same young team that was also behind the production of the children’s operaFerda Mravenec (Ferda the Ant) last August. Director Magdalena Švecová found the theme in the world of bohemian artists, whose studio blends into Paris, and their surroundings reflect the love affairs, achievements and setbacks of the time. The stage designer, David Janoušek, created a varied setting ranging from an attic flat with a leaky roof through to Christmas-time streets of the Montmartre district in Paris, where the costumes designed by Zuzana Přidalová and inspired by late 19th century fashion fit perfectly. 

“What was crucial to me was Henri Murger's book Scenes of Bohemian Life, which literally excited me and, throughout the preparation, I have been returning to it. Together with the visual artists, we also looked for as many historical pictures as possible to tune into 19th-century Paris as it looked at Christmas time. I am also fascinated by the atmosphere of studios. But I’m still looking for most of my inspiration in music; that’s the world that is the most magical one for me,” said Magdalena Švecová about the premiere. The premiere is set to take place tonight, 11 June 2021, starting at 7 p.m. at the Janáček Theatre.

The musical production is Jakub Klecker’s work. The main roles of pairs of lovers will be enacted by Jana Šrejma Kačírková and Pavla Vykopalová (Mimi) along with Peter Berger and Richard Samko (Rodolfo) as well as Doubravka Součková and Tereza Kyzlinková (Musetta) and Jiří Brückler and Roman Hoza (Marcello). The other roles will present not only well-tested soloists of the Brno-based ensemble such as Jan Šťáva and David Nykl (Colline), but also the outstanding members of the youngest generation of singers Lukáš Bařák and Tadeáš Hoza (Schaunard).

Photograph: Marek Olbrzymek

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