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Jenůfa ReviewsBrutal, searing, caustic. An unparalleled triumph. The CLS under Stuart
Stratford is utterly thrilling. Duprels' gorgeous sound belies an unusually
brittle, impetuous characterisation. Randle's alert, awkward Laca is touchingly
realised, Di Toro's Steva every inch the weak, handsome, bewildered child-man.
As to Mason, her Kostelnicka is a masterpiece; gloriously sung, thoroughly
thought out, racked with pain. Riveting to watch. A tightly focused staging. Anne Mason's scary Kostelnicka holds absolute
sway. Aldo Di Toro's heedless cad of a Steva and Tom Randle's stylishly brooding
Laca compete for the eloquent Anne Sophie Duprels in the title role. all are in
fine voice. Stratford milks the haunting score for all its tenderness as much as
its high drama. Anne Sophie Duprels and Anne Mason gave the two most compelling performances
I have ever seen at Holland Park. Duprels, of course, is familiar from her
excellent assumptions of Verdi?s Violetta and Luisa Miller in recent years,
but she topped even these achievements in the role of Jenufa. All three areas of
her voice are equally supple and focused in tone; she attacks the language with
gusto; and more than anything, she remains a formidable actress.Mason gave a barn-storming performance of
gravitas and concentration. The part of the Kostelnycka gets a terrific performance by Anne Mason; the
passion in Ms Duprels voice is really something to behold and she lends the part
a real tingle factor. Tom Randle gives a most moving account of Laca. Nuala
Willis offers a commanding figure of the matriarchal Grandmother Burya. City of
London Sinfonia, which plays Janácek?s brilliantly dramatic score as if its
life depended upon it. OHP pulls off a production that has you gripped throughout...a remarkable
achievement. Anne Mason a formidable Kostelnycka, Anne Sophie Duprels touches us
with her pain, fragility and ardour. Tom Randle's Laca shines out. A
spine-chilling evening. Conductor Stuart Stratford led an impulsive, faultlessly paced account of
this riveting score and the orchestra played as though their lives depended on
it. Jenufa is a deceptively big sing, but French soprano Anne Sophie Duprels
rose to the occasion, producing a flood of glorious tone all evening. She was
touching in her prayer to the Virgin Mary in Act Two, and in the final
reconciliation with Laca, was quite simply heart-breaking. Tom Randle was a
magnetic stage presence as Laca. |
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