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Janáček's Kát'a Kabanová, recorded at the New York's Met

Leoš Janáček's Kát'a Kabanová in an archive recording from the New York Met, with soprano Karita Mattila in the title role. Czech maestro Jirí Belohlávek conducts.

An archive recording of Leoš Janáček's Kát'a Kabanová from the New York's Met, in a performance first heard in 2004. The soprano Karita Mattila takes the title role as the wife longing for love, trapped in an unhappy marriage, victim of a domineering mother-in-law and a repressive society, in this tragic story full of psychological insight, based on 'The Storm', a play by Alexander Ostrovsky. The Czech maestro Jirí Belohlávek conducts the Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra and Chorus.

Presented by Mary Jo Heath, with commentator Ira Siff.

Káťa (Katerina), Tichon's wife - Karita Mattila: soprano,
Marfa Ignatěvna Kabanová (Kabanicha), a widow - Judith Forst: contralto
Varvara, a foundling - Magdalena Kožená: mezzo-soprano
Boris Grigorjevič, Dikój's nephew - Jorma Silvasti: tenor
Tichon Ivanyč Kabanov, Marfa's son - Chris Merritt: tenor
Váňa Kudrjaš, a schoolteacher - Raymond Very: tenor
Kuligin, friend of Vána Kudrjaš - Sebastian Catana: baritone
Savël Prokofjevic Dikój, a merchant - Vladimir Ognovenko: bass-baritone
Glaša, a servant - Janet Hopkins: mezzo-soprano
Fekluša, a servant - Diane Elias: mezzo-soprano
Townswoman - Charlotte Philley: contralto
Passer - Dennis Williams: tenor

Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Jirí Belohlávek, conductor

3 hours, 29 minutes

Music Played

  • Leos Janáček

    Kat'a Kabanova Act I

    Singer: Karita Mattila. Orchestra: New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.
  • Leos Janáček

    String Quartet No 1, 'Kreutzer Sonata'

    Ensemble: Jerusalem Quartet.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Stabat mater

    Singer: Anna Netrebko. Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Singer: Lawrence Brownlee. Singer: Ildebrando d’Arcangelo. Choir: Chorus of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Rossini, Stabat Mater: Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Sat 9 May 2020 18:30

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