Destiny (Janáček)

Performance history#

Osud was given in concert form in Brno in 1934, 1948 and 1954, all conducted by Břetislav Bakala. The first staging was in 1958 in Brno, conducted by František Jílek, as part of a complete cycle of operas at the 1958 Janáček Festival, in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Janáček’s death. However, the structure of the plot was altered from the original to give the story a “flashback” format, where the story begins with Act 3 and interpolates Act 1 and Act 2 as the “flashbacks”, before returning to finish Act 3. Scholars have criticised weaknesses in the plot as the reason for the opera’s neglect.

Act 1#

Míla and the composer Živný were once lovers, but Míla’s mother ended the relationship in hopes of a more advantageous match for her daughter. Alas, Míla was already pregnant and is now a single mother, unlikely to marry anyone else. She and Živný meet again for the first time amid the amusements of a spa town. They sneak off together and rekindle their love, but her mother tracks them down in the crowd and predicts disaster.

Act 2#

Four years later Živný and Míla are married, but her mother lives with them and has become mentally fragile. While their young son Doubek plays, the couple read through the unfinished opera Živný began during their separation. It is filled with bitterness against Míla, portraying her as faithless. Míla’s mother, losing her mind completely, repeats snatches of music from the opera before rushing to throw herself off a balcony. Attempting to restrain her mother, Míla too is pulled over, and both are killed.

Act 3#

Eleven years later, Živný’s opera is at last to be performed, although it remains unfinished. He rehearses a chorus from the opera with his students, among them Doubek, now a young man. Another student, Verva, guesses that the hero of the opera is the composer himself. Through the music, Živný again relives his love for Míla and his cruelty to her. Tormented by regret, he asks Doubek to fetch a glass of water and then collapses, saying that the end of the opera must remain in God’s hands. Doubek escorts him from the room.

Recordings#

• CRQ Editions: Burja Burian, Marie Bakalová, Marie Steinerová, Josef Válka, Frantisek Roesler; Brno Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Břetislav Bakala (reissue of Czech Radio Brno broadcast 4/6 December 1948)
• Orfeo C 384 951 A: Peter Straka, Lívia Ághová, Marta Beňačková, Štefan Margita, Peter Mikuláš, Ivan Kusnjer, Ludmila Nováková-Vernerová, Martina Straková, Věra Přibylová, Lubomír Moravec, Richard Sporka, Lenka Kučerová, Vladimír Nacházel, Eva Zbytovská; Prague Chamber Choir, Chorus Masters Josef Pančík; Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Gerd Albrecht, conductor (live recording 1995)
• Chandos CHAN3029 (sung in English): Helen Field, Philip Langridge, Kathryn Harries, Peter Bronder, Stuart Kale, Barry Mora, Christine Teare, Elizabeth Gaskell, Dorothy Hood, Catriona Bell, Mark Holland, Rebecca Moseley-Morgan, Samuel Linay, Michael Preston-Roberts, Yolande Jones, Cheryl Edwards, Mary Davies, Gaynor Keeble, Gareth Rhys-Davies, Philip Lloyd-Evans, Ralph Mason, Timothy German, Frances Manning; Welsh National Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor (recorded 1989)

References#

;Notes ;Sources * Tyrrell, John, “Osud” in New Grove Dictionary of Opera, Ed. Stanley Sadie, London, 1992

External links#

• Gavin Plumley’s Leoš Janáček site, information on Osud