Káťa Kabanová

A storm of longing. Richard Jones’s intimate, stripped-back staging beautifully realises Janáček’s opera of yearning and destruction, which stars Corinne Winters. Jakub Hrůša draws out the expressive lines of the Czech composer’s score, which is infused with traditional folk melodies of his – and Hrůša’s – home country.

The story of Kát'a Kabanová

Trapped in a loveless marriage, a claustrophobic community and under the authoritative rule of her mother-in-law, a young and vulnerable woman is swept up in a passionate affair. But newly awakened hope soon turns to despair as Kát'a is consumed by waves of longing and guilt.

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Act I

Váňa Kudrjáš draws the Kabanovs’ servant Glaša to the River Volga. Dikoj enters angrily with his nephew Boris, whom he denounces for his idleness. Dikoj leaves. Boris tells Kudrjáš that his parents are dead, and, according to the terms of his grandmother’s will, he can only claim his inheritance if he respects Dikoj. Boris confides to Kudrjáš that he has fallen in love with Kát’a Kabanová. Returning from Evensong, Kabanicha, the Kabanov family matriarch, complains to her son Tichon that he has neglected her since his marriage. Kát’a tries to placate her mother-in-law, but Kabanicha orders her to be quiet. The Kabanovs’ ward Varvara scolds Tichon for not defending his wife.

Kát’a tells Varvara that she was much happier before her marriage, and that she guiltily dreams of meeting Boris. Tichon prepares to leave on a business trip. Kát’a asks to go with him. He refuses, so she insists he make her promise not to speak to any strangers while he is away. Kabanicha interrupts, and demands that Tichon instruct Kát’a on how to behave during his absence. Tichon tells Kát’a she must obey Kabanicha in all things, then leaves.

Act II

Kabanicha scolds Kát’a for not showing more unhappiness at Tichon’s absence. Varvara offers Kát’a the key to the far part of the garden, where she regularly meets her lover Kudrjáš. Kát’a is horrified but can’t resist the chance to see Boris. She leaves. Kabanicha comes back with Dikoj, who demands that she scold him – she is the only person brave enough to do it.

Kudrjáš waits for Varvara and sings a folksong. Boris arrives in response to a mysterious message to wait in the garden. Varvara joins them, and she and Kudrjáš leave to make love. Kát’a appears, and Boris tells her that he loves her. She eventually admits that she loves him too. Varvara and Kudrjáš return and suggest that Boris and Kát’a go for a walk together.

Act III

It is two weeks later. A storm breaks, and Kudrjáš, Dikoj’s employee Kuligin, Dikoj and others take shelter. Kudrjáš explains that storms are caused by electricity. Dikoj insists that storms are a punishment sent by God.

Varvara warns Boris that Tichon has returned, and that Kát’a is threatening to tell him everything. Boris hides as Kát’a arrives, followed by Kabanicha, Dikoj and Tichon. Varvara attempts to calm Kát’a. Kát’a confesses that she has slept with Boris.

Tichon and Glaša search for Kát’a. Varvara, who has escaped the Kabanovs’ house, meets Kudrjáš, and they decide to leave for Moscow together. Kát’a longs to see Boris again. He appears – but only to tell her that Dikoj is sending him away. Kát’a first asks to go with him, then says he must depart alone. After Boris leaves, Kát’a determines on suicide and throws herself into the river. Kuligin sees her and calls for help, but it is too late. Tichon blames Kabanicha. Kabanicha thanks the bystanders for their help.