Káťa Kabanová - Royal Ballet and Opera

Káťa Kabanová - Royal Ballet and Opera description

About the Show

Leoš Janáček's Káťa Kabanová is set in a small town on the Volga. Káťa is trapped in a loveless marriage to Tichon, who defers to his overbearing mother Kabanicha. While Tichon is away on business, the family's ward Varvara helps Káťa meet Boris, the young man she has secretly been dreaming of. Their affair gives her a brief taste of freedom, but when a storm breaks and her husband comes home, her guilt can no longer be contained.

Richard Jones's Olivier Award-winning production was first staged at the Royal Opera House in 2019 and received four-star reviews from The Guardian, The Independent, The Arts Desk and The Stage. It is a co-production with Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. The opera is sung in Czech with English surtitles, lasts around two hours and 15 minutes including one interval, and is suitable for ages 12+, as it contains themes of a sexual nature and implied depictions of suicide.

Cast and Creatives

Janáček composed the music and wrote the libretto, drawing on the folk melodies and speech patterns of his Czech homeland. The director is Richard Jones, whose other stagings include Festen and Alcina. Designs are by Antony McDonald, lighting by Lucy Carter and movement direction by Sarah Fahie. Jakub Hrůša conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

Corinne Winters plays Káťa, alongside David Butt Philip as Boris, Nicky Spence as Tichon, Rosie Aldridge as Kabanicha, Marvic Monreal as Varvara, Benjamin Hulett as Kudrjáš and Clive Bayley as Dikoj.

Why You Should Watch It

A taut drama of desire and guilt set to Janáček's folk-inflected score, Káťa Kabanová returns to the Royal Opera House in Richard Jones's award-winning staging. Book your tickets now.

Playing at Royal Opera House (venue info)