From the House of the Dead

"From the House of the Dead" ("Z Mrtvého Domu" in Czech) is an opera by Leoš Janáček, in three acts. The libretto was translated and adapted by the composer from the novel by Dostoyevsky. It was the composer's last opera, premiered on 12 April 1930 in Brno, two years after his death.

Janáček worked on this opera knowing that it would be his last, and for it he broke away from the habit he had developed of creating characters modeled on his love interest Kamila Stösslová (although the themes of loneliness and isolation can clearly be seen as a response to her indifference to his feelings). There are, in fact, almost no female characters, and the setting, a Siberian prison, offers up a large ensemble cast instead of one or several prominent leads. There is no narrative to the piece as a whole, but individual characters narrate episodes in their lives, and there is a "play-within-a-play" in Act 2.

"From the House of the Dead" was virtually finished when Janáček died. Two of his students, believing the orchestration was incomplete, "filled out" large portions of the score, as well as adapting the ending to be more optimistic in tone. In addition to the work of Bretislav Bakala, Ota Zitek made changes to the text and sequence of events in the opera. [Hans Hollander, "Janáček's Last Opera". "The Musical Times", 97(1362), 407-409 (1956).] Decades later, a version closer to the composer's intentions superseded that version, and is most often heard today. Some productions, however, still use the ending adapted earlier, as it lessens the bleakness of the story.

The vast orchestra for which this opera is written includes chains (as a percussion instrument), to evoke the sound of the dead.

ynopsis

Siberan prison camp, a winter morning. Goryanchikov, a nobleman, is the latest arrival to the prison camp. He is flogged by the Governor after an interrogation. While at work, the prisoners exchange stories. Luka tells of how he had incited a rebellion and killed an officer in the last prison camp. He describes his flogging as Goryanchikov is dragged in, half dead. Goryanchikov befriends Alyeya, teaching him how to read and write. It is Easter and the prisoners receive a blessing and gifts from charity. A prisoner, infuriated with Aleyeya and Goryanchikov’s friendship, beats Alyeya. Shishkov tells a story of how he loved Akulka, whom his nemesis, Filka, claimed to have dishonoured. After he married Akulka and discovered that she still loved Filka, he killed his wife. Luka dies as the story ends, and Shishkov recognizes him as Filka. Goryanchikov is summoned by the Governor, apologized to, and released, along with the release of a healed eagle.

Recording

* Decca: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor (recording of original version) [Winton Dean, "Record Review" of Janáček: "From the House of the Dead". "The Musical Times", 122(1663), 607 (1981).]
*Deutsche Grammophon (DVD): Olaf Bär, Eric Stocklossa, Stefan Margita; Arnold Schönberg Choir; Mahler Chamber Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, conductor; Patrice Chéreau, director

References

http://www.leosjanacek.co.uk/houseofthedead.htm