Janacek: Jenufa – Eichenholz, Karneus, Briscein, Spence, London SO & Chorus, Rattle | SACD, LSO Live

Janáček’s searing, magnificent opera explores a woman’s limited options in a suffocating small town.

Jenůfa is pregnant, but she isn’t married. In her isolated mountain village this means disgrace, or even death. The composer pondered his characters’ predicament for many years. The opera he eventually completed is a blazing vision of human suffering and redemption, rooted in the rhythms of everyday life.

Jenůfa brings together a remarkable cast, including Agneta Eichenholz’s heartbreaking portrayal of a vulnerable young woman and Katarina Karnéus’ achingly powerful Kostelnička. The third in a series of Janáček operas presented by Conductor Emeritus Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO, this next instalment follows the critically acclaimed Katya Kabanova, released in 2024, and The Cunning Little Vixen, released in 2020.