Katya Kabanova is perhaps not my favourite of Janacek's operas, I do prefer Jenufa and especially The Cunning Little Vixen. It is however endearingly romantic, chilling and moving, and has a score of great beauty and passion. This Glyndebourne production is generally good. It does have imperfections though, the sound is not always well-balanced making the orchestra rather distant at times, while the costumes are never sure whether they are meant to be in keeping with ultra-modern or fairytale and Barry McCauley, while eager and having the ability to make Katya be infatuated with him, is rather strained as Boris. However, I loved how austere yet vivid the sets were. The staging is passionate and moving as well, while the orchestra sound anguished and lyrical and Andrew Davies' conducting suitably incisive. Nancy Gustafson's voice soars effortlessly over the orchestra, and dramatically she perfectly conveys the overwrought girlish quality and the guilt that Katya has later on. Felicity Palmer embodies severity in the role of Kabanicha, she sings firmly and you do feel the terrible hold she has on Katya and Tichon. Ryland Davies' Tichon is very well sung and performed with intensity, and John-Graham Hall's singing is wonderfully graceful, adding some lyricism to the almost speech-like vocal lines Kudrjas has. In conclusion, well worth watching for the singing. 7/10 Bethany Cox
