Act 1 – The colonnade walk in Luhačovice
At the centre of attention of the many guests at the spa town is the poet Dr. Suda, who is there with his friends, Konečný and Lhotský, and a young lady named Míla. A new guest arrives, the composer Živný. The group is surprised to find that Živný and Míla have met before. New people appear on the scene: the singing teacher Miss Stuhlá, along with some young people who are looking forward to a scouting excursion with Dr. Suda. Most of the people then leave, and only Živný and Míla stay behind. Their previous love affair had been put to an end by Míla´s mother, for whom the prospect of her daughter living with a composer was comparable to a beggar´s existence. Živný has been composing an opera about his unfortunate fate ever since. Only now does he find out that he had wrongly suspected Míla of infidelity: her son Doubek is actually his son. The two lovers agree that they will live together, Míla´s mother notwithstanding.

Act 2 – The married couple´s apartment 
Živný sings excerpts from his opera. He must now delete those parts in which he unjustly accused Míla of faithlessness. Young Doubek asks his mother whether she knows what love is. Míla knows this far too well – love and the whole of her life are ruled by Fate, Fatum. Life with Míla´s mother is becoming hell. The mother´s insanity is increasing: she is forced to live under one roof with a man who, in her opinion, is interested only in her money. Živný appears to her like a wicked raven. She wants to fly away from him, but falls off the balcony and drags Míla down with her. Živný is in despair about his wife´s death. He invites thunderbolts to strike at his wretched fate.

Act 3 – The assembly hall of the conservatoire
Students are singing from the score of the new opera written by their Professor Živný. The work is to have its premiere in the theatre that evening, but the last act is still missing. The students ask their teacher to tell them something about his strange opera. With great animation, Živný speaks about the origin of the piece, and the surprised students realize that the content of the opera is in fact their professor’s very own life story. Živný´s narration is just getting close to the point of Míla´s death when suddenly thunderbolts from a real storm can be seen. Živný collapses. The end of his opera remains unfinished and in the hands of God, much like Živný´s fate.

Conductor: Marko Ivanović

Stage director: Robert Carsen

Dramaturgy: Ian Burton

Set Design: Radu Boruzescu

Costume Design: Annemarie Woods

Lighting Design: Peter van Praet a Robert Carsen

Choreography: Lorena Randi

Choirmaster: Pavel Koňárek

Assistant Stage Director: Gilles Rico

CAST:

Živný, a composer: Enrico Casari & Philip Sheffield

Míla Válková: Alžběta Poláčková

Míla´s mother: Natascha Petrinsky

Dr. Suda: Peter Račko

Lhotský, malíř: Jan Šťáva

Konečný: Igor Loškár

Miss Stuhlá, a teacher: Daniela Straková-Šedrlová

Doubek (child): Kryštof Cholava

Poet: Michael Robotka

First lady / Miss Pacovská: Andrea Široká

Second lady / Mrs. Majorová: Tereza Kyzlinková

Student: Michael Robotka

Old Slovak woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Mrs. Radová: Jana Hrochová

Young widow: Hana Kopřivová

Engineer: Pavel Valenta

Verva, student: Lukáš Bařák

Součková, student: Marta Reichelová

Kosinská, student: Jarmila Balážová

Doubek: Daniel Matoušek

Sklepník: Ivo Musil

Hrázda: Ondřej Koplík

Servant: Petr Štych

Nána: Kristýna Svítilová

Lhotský, painter: Jan Šťáva

Act 1 – The colonnade walk in Luhačovice
At the centre of attention of the many guests at the spa town is the poet Dr. Suda, who is there with his friends, Konečný and Lhotský, and a young lady named Míla. A new guest arrives, the composer Živný. The group is surprised to find that Živný and Míla have met before. New people appear on the scene: the singing teacher Miss Stuhlá, along with some young people who are looking forward to a scouting excursion with Dr. Suda. Most of the people then leave, and only Živný and Míla stay behind. Their previous love affair had been put to an end by Míla´s mother, for whom the prospect of her daughter living with a composer was comparable to a beggar´s existence. Živný has been composing an opera about his unfortunate fate ever since. Only now does he find out that he had wrongly suspected Míla of infidelity: her son Doubek is actually his son. The two lovers agree that they will live together, Míla´s mother notwithstanding.

Act 2 – The married couple´s apartment 
Živný sings excerpts from his opera. He must now delete those parts in which he unjustly accused Míla of faithlessness. Young Doubek asks his mother whether she knows what love is. Míla knows this far too well – love and the whole of her life are ruled by Fate, Fatum. Life with Míla´s mother is becoming hell. The mother´s insanity is increasing: she is forced to live under one roof with a man who, in her opinion, is interested only in her money. Živný appears to her like a wicked raven. She wants to fly away from him, but falls off the balcony and drags Míla down with her. Živný is in despair about his wife´s death. He invites thunderbolts to strike at his wretched fate.

Act 3 – The assembly hall of the conservatoire
Students are singing from the score of the new opera written by their Professor Živný. The work is to have its premiere in the theatre that evening, but the last act is still missing. The students ask their teacher to tell them something about his strange opera. With great animation, Živný speaks about the origin of the piece, and the surprised students realize that the content of the opera is in fact their professor’s very own life story. Živný´s narration is just getting close to the point of Míla´s death when suddenly thunderbolts from a real storm can be seen. Živný collapses. The end of his opera remains unfinished and in the hands of God, much like Živný´s fate.

Conductor: Marko Ivanović

Stage director: Robert Carsen

Dramaturgy: Ian Burton

Set Design: Radu Boruzescu

Costume Design: Annemarie Woods

Lighting Design: Peter van Praet a Robert Carsen

Choreography: Lorena Randi

Choirmaster: Pavel Koňárek

Assistant Stage Director: Gilles Rico

CAST:

Živný, a composer: Enrico Casari & Philip Sheffield

Míla Válková: Alžběta Poláčková

Míla´s mother: Natascha Petrinsky

Dr. Suda: Peter Račko

Lhotský, malíř: Jan Šťáva

Konečný: Igor Loškár

Miss Stuhlá, a teacher: Daniela Straková-Šedrlová

Doubek (child): Kryštof Cholava

Poet: Michael Robotka

First lady / Miss Pacovská: Andrea Široká

Second lady / Mrs. Majorová: Tereza Kyzlinková

Student: Michael Robotka

Old Slovak woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Mrs. Radová: Jana Hrochová

Young widow: Hana Kopřivová

Engineer: Pavel Valenta

Verva, student: Lukáš Bařák

Součková, student: Marta Reichelová

Kosinská, student: Jarmila Balážová

Doubek: Daniel Matoušek

Sklepník: Ivo Musil

Hrázda: Ondřej Koplík

Servant: Petr Štych

Nána: Kristýna Svítilová

Lhotský, painter: Jan Šťáva

Act 1

The bell in Lycovrissi announces the end of the Easter Sunday church service. The priest Father Grigoris arrives and announces the names of the villagers whom the council of elders have chosen for the next passion plays. The roles of apostles James, Peter and John are assigned to café owner Kostandis, the pedlar and postman Yannakos and the mayor´s son Michelis. The role of Mary Magdalene is given to Katerina, a widow. Quick-tempered Panait was chosen for the character of Judas, though he desperately protests against the assigned role. Christ remains, and this most difficult task is laid at the feet of Manolios. All of the chosen begin to feel the burden of responsibility. They are supposed to live virtuously for the whole year so that they may resemble the characters they are to represent in the plays. Manolios falls into such deep thought that he does not even notice his bride Lenio is teasing him, but suddenly cries in the distance draw everyone´s attention. A crowd of wretched people arrive. They are fleeing from the Turks, who have burnt their village. Hungry and exhausted, they beg for help and a piece of land where they could settle down again. But Father Grigoris, who doesn´t want to share out his people’s prosperity or land, only has harsh words for the refugees and Fotis, the priest who leads them. One of the refugee women, Despinios, suddenly dies, exhausted from hunger. Grigoris makes use of this opportunity by crying out “Cholera!” Scared, many of the villagers flee. Only Manolios, Katerina and a few others remain. Manolios advises the refugees to settle down on Mount Sarakina where there is water, wild animals and enough wood to build a fire.

 

Act 2

Katerina became a widow at a young age and has remained alone. The men of the village started to seek out her company, and she didn´t turn any of them down, whether it was Panait, old Patriarcheas or Grigoris. However, she thinks only of Manolios, but at the same time feels something more for him than just physical desire. She tells Yannakos of a dream she had about Manolios. Yannakos looks at Katerina in the same way as all the men in the village, and instead of understanding, she only receives a reprimand and is told to leave Manolios alone.

Rich moneylender Ladas waits to speak to Yannakos. He tries to persuade the pedlar that he could get rich fast if he went to the people on Mount Sarakina and took the gold and jewels which they’ve saved from the Turks. Of course, they would share in the profit. Yannakos gets an advance payment and sets off to Mount Sarakina.

Manolios meets Katerina at St. Basil’s spring. She confesses to him that she dreams of him. He is not indifferent to her, but he does not know how to help. Katerina begs him not to think about her anymore.

On Mount Sarakina, Fotis is trying to rouse the exhausted refugees and convince them that they can build a new life there. In the foundations of the gate to the new village, where the bones of ancestors are supposed to be buried, an old man dies, reconciled and happy that his children will continue to live. Yannakos, who came to Sarakina to profit from the villagers’ poverty, is shaken. Crying, he confesses to Fotis that he wanted to get rich from their misfortune and asks for forgiveness, giving away Ladas´ money to the people there.

Act 3

Manolios is full of doubts about his mission, and his internal struggle is reflected in a feverish dream. He does not even notice Lenio when she comes to see him, and she decides to transfer her attentions to the shepherd Nikolios. Manolios goes down to the village to see Katerina. She welcomes him happily, but Manolios begs her not to pursue him as he sees her as his sister. Katerina is moved, his words purify her and she will be devoted to him her whole life.

On the way to Sarakina, Katerina meets Yannakos. She explains to him that she is taking a sheep there so that the children will have enough milk. She doesn´t have any children herself, and so she feels like all of them are her own. Yannakos also finally understands Katerina´s transformation.

Manolios is trying to persuade the people of the village to help the refugees. Father Grigoris is furious as he feels that his position is threatened. Action is needed. He drives Manolios out of the village along with the “apostles”. Michelis tells Yannakos and Kostandis that Lenio no longer wants to marry Manolios. Nikolios arrives, afraid to tell Manolios that he is getting married to Lenio. Manolios, however, wishes him good luck.

Act 4

The joyful celebration of the wedding of Nikolios and Lenio is interrupted by the angry voice of priest Grigoris. The mangy sheep needs to be chased out of the herd so that it does not infect the others. Manolios is expelled from the church! Everyone who offers to help him will suffer the same punishment. But Michelis, Yannakos and Kostandis stand firmly by him. Manolios confesses to his sins. The role of Christ had aroused pride in him, but now he understands its true nature. Everything in life has its time, and now the time has come for the world, a cruel place where children die of hunger, to pass away. The sounds of voices are heard from afar – the Sarakina people are coming to fight. At that moment, the villagers kill Manolios, accusing Panait – Judas of the deed. There is only one thing left for the refugees…

Author: Bohuslav Martinů

Conductor: Robert Kružík

Director: Jiří Heřman

Scéna: Dragan Stojčevski

Kostýmy: Alexandra Grusková

Dramaturge: Patricie Částková

Choirmasters: Pavel Koňárek, Michal Vajda, Valeria Maťašová

Movement Collaboration: Kateřina Nováčková

________________________

Manolios: Harold Meers

Kateřina: Pavla Vykopalová

Priest Grigoris: Jan Šťáva

Priest Fotis: David Szendiuch

Jannakos: Ondřej Koplík

Kostandis: Roman Hoza

Lenio: Andrea Široká

Panait: Petr Levíček

Ladas: Robert Musialek

An old man: Josef Škarka j. h.

The Patriacheas: Petr Karas

Michelis: Dušan Růžička

Andonis: Vít Nosek

An old woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Nikolios: Tadeáš Hoza j. h.

Despinio: Tereza Kyzlinková

little Manolios: Boris Trhlík, Kryštof Cholava

Act 1

The bell in Lycovrissi announces the end of the Easter Sunday church service. The priest Father Grigoris arrives and announces the names of the villagers whom the council of elders have chosen for the next passion plays. The roles of apostles James, Peter and John are assigned to café owner Kostandis, the pedlar and postman Yannakos and the mayor´s son Michelis. The role of Mary Magdalene is given to Katerina, a widow. Quick-tempered Panait was chosen for the character of Judas, though he desperately protests against the assigned role. Christ remains, and this most difficult task is laid at the feet of Manolios. All of the chosen begin to feel the burden of responsibility. They are supposed to live virtuously for the whole year so that they may resemble the characters they are to represent in the plays. Manolios falls into such deep thought that he does not even notice his bride Lenio is teasing him, but suddenly cries in the distance draw everyone´s attention. A crowd of wretched people arrive. They are fleeing from the Turks, who have burnt their village. Hungry and exhausted, they beg for help and a piece of land where they could settle down again. But Father Grigoris, who doesn´t want to share out his people’s prosperity or land, only has harsh words for the refugees and Fotis, the priest who leads them. One of the refugee women, Despinios, suddenly dies, exhausted from hunger. Grigoris makes use of this opportunity by crying out “Cholera!” Scared, many of the villagers flee. Only Manolios, Katerina and a few others remain. Manolios advises the refugees to settle down on Mount Sarakina where there is water, wild animals and enough wood to build a fire.

 

Act 2

Katerina became a widow at a young age and has remained alone. The men of the village started to seek out her company, and she didn´t turn any of them down, whether it was Panait, old Patriarcheas or Grigoris. However, she thinks only of Manolios, but at the same time feels something more for him than just physical desire. She tells Yannakos of a dream she had about Manolios. Yannakos looks at Katerina in the same way as all the men in the village, and instead of understanding, she only receives a reprimand and is told to leave Manolios alone.

Rich moneylender Ladas waits to speak to Yannakos. He tries to persuade the pedlar that he could get rich fast if he went to the people on Mount Sarakina and took the gold and jewels which they’ve saved from the Turks. Of course, they would share in the profit. Yannakos gets an advance payment and sets off to Mount Sarakina.

Manolios meets Katerina at St. Basil’s spring. She confesses to him that she dreams of him. He is not indifferent to her, but he does not know how to help. Katerina begs him not to think about her anymore.

On Mount Sarakina, Fotis is trying to rouse the exhausted refugees and convince them that they can build a new life there. In the foundations of the gate to the new village, where the bones of ancestors are supposed to be buried, an old man dies, reconciled and happy that his children will continue to live. Yannakos, who came to Sarakina to profit from the villagers’ poverty, is shaken. Crying, he confesses to Fotis that he wanted to get rich from their misfortune and asks for forgiveness, giving away Ladas´ money to the people there.

Act 3

Manolios is full of doubts about his mission, and his internal struggle is reflected in a feverish dream. He does not even notice Lenio when she comes to see him, and she decides to transfer her attentions to the shepherd Nikolios. Manolios goes down to the village to see Katerina. She welcomes him happily, but Manolios begs her not to pursue him as he sees her as his sister. Katerina is moved, his words purify her and she will be devoted to him her whole life.

On the way to Sarakina, Katerina meets Yannakos. She explains to him that she is taking a sheep there so that the children will have enough milk. She doesn´t have any children herself, and so she feels like all of them are her own. Yannakos also finally understands Katerina´s transformation.

Manolios is trying to persuade the people of the village to help the refugees. Father Grigoris is furious as he feels that his position is threatened. Action is needed. He drives Manolios out of the village along with the “apostles”. Michelis tells Yannakos and Kostandis that Lenio no longer wants to marry Manolios. Nikolios arrives, afraid to tell Manolios that he is getting married to Lenio. Manolios, however, wishes him good luck.

Act 4

The joyful celebration of the wedding of Nikolios and Lenio is interrupted by the angry voice of priest Grigoris. The mangy sheep needs to be chased out of the herd so that it does not infect the others. Manolios is expelled from the church! Everyone who offers to help him will suffer the same punishment. But Michelis, Yannakos and Kostandis stand firmly by him. Manolios confesses to his sins. The role of Christ had aroused pride in him, but now he understands its true nature. Everything in life has its time, and now the time has come for the world, a cruel place where children die of hunger, to pass away. The sounds of voices are heard from afar – the Sarakina people are coming to fight. At that moment, the villagers kill Manolios, accusing Panait – Judas of the deed. There is only one thing left for the refugees…

Author: Bohuslav Martinů

Conductor: Robert Kružík

Director: Jiří Heřman

Scéna: Dragan Stojčevski

Kostýmy: Alexandra Grusková

Dramaturge: Patricie Částková

Choirmasters: Pavel Koňárek, Michal Vajda, Valeria Maťašová

Movement Collaboration: Kateřina Nováčková

________________________

Manolios: Harold Meers

Kateřina: Pavla Vykopalová

Priest Grigoris: Jan Šťáva

Priest Fotis: David Szendiuch

Jannakos: Ondřej Koplík

Kostandis: Roman Hoza

Lenio: Andrea Široká

Panait: Petr Levíček

Ladas: Robert Musialek

An old man: Josef Škarka j. h.

The Patriacheas: Petr Karas

Michelis: Dušan Růžička

Andonis: Vít Nosek

An old woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Nikolios: Tadeáš Hoza j. h.

Despinio: Tereza Kyzlinková

little Manolios: Boris Trhlík, Kryštof Cholava

Act 1

The bell in Lycovrissi announces the end of the Easter Sunday church service. The priest Father Grigoris arrives and announces the names of the villagers whom the council of elders have chosen for the next passion plays. The roles of apostles James, Peter and John are assigned to café owner Kostandis, the pedlar and postman Yannakos and the mayor´s son Michelis. The role of Mary Magdalene is given to Katerina, a widow. Quick-tempered Panait was chosen for the character of Judas, though he desperately protests against the assigned role. Christ remains, and this most difficult task is laid at the feet of Manolios. All of the chosen begin to feel the burden of responsibility. They are supposed to live virtuously for the whole year so that they may resemble the characters they are to represent in the plays. Manolios falls into such deep thought that he does not even notice his bride Lenio is teasing him, but suddenly cries in the distance draw everyone´s attention. A crowd of wretched people arrive. They are fleeing from the Turks, who have burnt their village. Hungry and exhausted, they beg for help and a piece of land where they could settle down again. But Father Grigoris, who doesn´t want to share out his people’s prosperity or land, only has harsh words for the refugees and Fotis, the priest who leads them. One of the refugee women, Despinios, suddenly dies, exhausted from hunger. Grigoris makes use of this opportunity by crying out “Cholera!” Scared, many of the villagers flee. Only Manolios, Katerina and a few others remain. Manolios advises the refugees to settle down on Mount Sarakina where there is water, wild animals and enough wood to build a fire.

 

Act 2

Katerina became a widow at a young age and has remained alone. The men of the village started to seek out her company, and she didn´t turn any of them down, whether it was Panait, old Patriarcheas or Grigoris. However, she thinks only of Manolios, but at the same time feels something more for him than just physical desire. She tells Yannakos of a dream she had about Manolios. Yannakos looks at Katerina in the same way as all the men in the village, and instead of understanding, she only receives a reprimand and is told to leave Manolios alone.

Rich moneylender Ladas waits to speak to Yannakos. He tries to persuade the pedlar that he could get rich fast if he went to the people on Mount Sarakina and took the gold and jewels which they’ve saved from the Turks. Of course, they would share in the profit. Yannakos gets an advance payment and sets off to Mount Sarakina.

Manolios meets Katerina at St. Basil’s spring. She confesses to him that she dreams of him. He is not indifferent to her, but he does not know how to help. Katerina begs him not to think about her anymore.

On Mount Sarakina, Fotis is trying to rouse the exhausted refugees and convince them that they can build a new life there. In the foundations of the gate to the new village, where the bones of ancestors are supposed to be buried, an old man dies, reconciled and happy that his children will continue to live. Yannakos, who came to Sarakina to profit from the villagers’ poverty, is shaken. Crying, he confesses to Fotis that he wanted to get rich from their misfortune and asks for forgiveness, giving away Ladas´ money to the people there.

Act 3

Manolios is full of doubts about his mission, and his internal struggle is reflected in a feverish dream. He does not even notice Lenio when she comes to see him, and she decides to transfer her attentions to the shepherd Nikolios. Manolios goes down to the village to see Katerina. She welcomes him happily, but Manolios begs her not to pursue him as he sees her as his sister. Katerina is moved, his words purify her and she will be devoted to him her whole life.

On the way to Sarakina, Katerina meets Yannakos. She explains to him that she is taking a sheep there so that the children will have enough milk. She doesn´t have any children herself, and so she feels like all of them are her own. Yannakos also finally understands Katerina´s transformation.

Manolios is trying to persuade the people of the village to help the refugees. Father Grigoris is furious as he feels that his position is threatened. Action is needed. He drives Manolios out of the village along with the “apostles”. Michelis tells Yannakos and Kostandis that Lenio no longer wants to marry Manolios. Nikolios arrives, afraid to tell Manolios that he is getting married to Lenio. Manolios, however, wishes him good luck.

Act 4

The joyful celebration of the wedding of Nikolios and Lenio is interrupted by the angry voice of priest Grigoris. The mangy sheep needs to be chased out of the herd so that it does not infect the others. Manolios is expelled from the church! Everyone who offers to help him will suffer the same punishment. But Michelis, Yannakos and Kostandis stand firmly by him. Manolios confesses to his sins. The role of Christ had aroused pride in him, but now he understands its true nature. Everything in life has its time, and now the time has come for the world, a cruel place where children die of hunger, to pass away. The sounds of voices are heard from afar – the Sarakina people are coming to fight. At that moment, the villagers kill Manolios, accusing Panait – Judas of the deed. There is only one thing left for the refugees…

Author: Bohuslav Martinů

Conductor: Robert Kružík

Director: Jiří Heřman

Scéna: Dragan Stojčevski

Kostýmy: Alexandra Grusková

Dramaturge: Patricie Částková

Choirmasters: Pavel Koňárek, Michal Vajda, Valeria Maťašová

Movement Collaboration: Kateřina Nováčková

________________________

Manolios: Harold Meers

Kateřina: Pavla Vykopalová

Priest Grigoris: Jan Šťáva

Priest Fotis: David Szendiuch

Jannakos: Ondřej Koplík

Kostandis: Roman Hoza

Lenio: Andrea Široká

Panait: Petr Levíček

Ladas: Robert Musialek

An old man: Josef Škarka j. h.

The Patriacheas: Petr Karas

Michelis: Dušan Růžička

Andonis: Vít Nosek

An old woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Nikolios: Tadeáš Hoza j. h.

Despinio: Tereza Kyzlinková

little Manolios: Boris Trhlík, Kryštof Cholava