This double volume contains two masterpieces of the Czech composer Leos Janacek. Jenufa was the opera which finally brought him international recognition - and, with it, fame at home. Based on Ostrovsky's The Storm, Katya Kabanova contains wonderful music inspired by the composer's love for a much younger woman. The scores are discussed by Arnold Whittall, and the background sources are variously introduced by social and literary historians. John Tyrell comments on an important letter about the genesis of Katya; Sir Charles Mackerras describes his work as an interpreter and advocate of this brilliantly original and dramatic music.Contents: A National Composer Jaroslav Krejci; Drama into Libretto, Karel Brusak; The Challenge from Within: Janacek's Musico-dramatic Mastery, Arnold Whittall; Janacek and Czech Realism, Jan Smaczny; JenAfa: Libretto by Leos Janacek; JenAfa: English translation by Otakar Kraus and Edward Downes; A Russian Heart of Darkness, Alex de Jonge; Janacek's forgotten commentary on 'Katya Kabanova', John Tyrrell; Katya Kabanova: Libretto by Leos Janacek; Katya Kabanova: English translation by Norman Tucker; Janacek's Operas - Preparation and Performance, Charles Mackerras

English National Opera Guides are ideal companions to the opera. They provide stimulating introductory articles together with the complete text of each opera in English and the original. Two masterpieces of the late flowering genius of the Czech composer Leos Janacek are the subject of this double volume. "Jenufa" was the opera which finally brought him international recognition, and, with it, fame at home; it was the fruit ofmore than25 years of work. It has been called a tragedy with a happy ending, and its moving story seems to embody the spirit of Moravian village life." Katya" on the other hand, was composed in an uninterrupted flow during 1920: while it is based on Ostrovky's "The Storm," it contains wonderfulromantic music inspired by the old composer's love for a much younger woman. The scores are discussed by Arnold Whittall in a comparative essay, and the background and sources are variously introduced by social and literary historians. John Tyrell comments on an important and newly discovered letter about the genesis of Katya; Sir Charles Mackerras describes his work as an interpreter and advocate of this brilliantly original and dramatic music."

A compelling portrait of this enigmatic musical genius within the context of the cultural and political currents of his time