Janacek: Jenufa

none of the reviews here are about this DVD
It's a great and powerful opera and I would say this version from Malmo is the best on DVD, I have all four of them. The singing is uniformly good, the period setting 1930s/40s is effective, good balance between close-up and whole stage views. It's a shame that Amazon would put all the reviews from other productions under this new version.

Another excellent Jenufa
Although we were already spoiled for choice with Jenufa, here is a new one from Malmö, beautifully sung and staged with a sure hand. I'm not sure I understand the setting of the last scene, but the final gesture of reconciliation is realized with splendid subtlety. The singing is uniformly fine, with the Kostelnicka perhaps taking the top honors. She refuses to chew the scenery, and this keeps her characterization human. At the end of her scene in Act I she has a smile of self-satisfaction. At first I thought this was inappropriate, but on reflection it rings true. She has not only succeeded in separating Jenufa and Steva (so she thinks, not knowing about the pregnancy, but probably certain that Steva cannot stay sober for a year), but she also gets her own back on his father, her deceased husband, through Steva. She communicates this in one very telling moment. The Jenufa and Laca realize all the emotional implications of their parts. They grow in stature before our...

Perhaps the best?
This production is very, very fine. Erika Sunnegardh has one of her dream roles here. (She is soon to be singing Turandot in Stockholm and Fidelio at the Edinburgh Festival. And lots of Toscas in Germany.) Thre three main female roles and the two male ones are very very well done. And the production in all its simplicity is very effective. Bravo, Malmo Opera! And thank you Arthaus for publishing it!

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