Janácek – Katja Kabanova

Janácek – Katja Kabanova

This award-winning and original production of Leos Janacek’s opera Káťa Kabanová was filmed in the baroque decor of Les Bouffes du Nord in Paris. With a reduced piano version and incredibly talented young singers, this is an enchanting version, acclaimed both by the press and the public. Kát’a is married to Tichon, who is dominated by his tyrannical mother Kabanicha. Boris, who lives in with his uncle, the merchant Dikój, is hopelessly in love with Kát’a. Kát’a confesses to Varvara, one of Kabanicha’s foster daughters, that she finds her feelings for Boris hard to resist. Varvara, who harbours a secret crush for teacher Kudrjas, promised to help her. Kabanicha sends her son on a business trip and Kát’a vainly tries to persuade her husband not to leave, because she knows she will end up meeting with Boris. Varvara, who has a date with Kudrjas herself, tells Kát’a that Boris is waiting for her in the garden. Meanwhile, a grotesque love scene is taking place between the inebriated Dikój and the hypocrite Kabanicha. When Tichon comes home, Kát’a confesses that she spent the final 10 nights with Boris. Kabanicha wants to punish Kát’a severely, and Dikój sends his cousin to Siberia. The lovers say goodbye, after which Kát’a jumps into the river and drowns herself. Once Tichon sees Kát‘a’s lifeless body, he rises against his mother for the first time, accusing her of the death of his wife. Performers: Kelly Hodson, Paul Gaugler, Martin Surot Conductor: Irène Kudela Producer: Idéale Audience Video director: Louise Narboni Location: Bouffes du Nord, Paris Year: 2014