De la maison des morts (TV 2008)

Director:

Stéphane Metge

Writers:

Leos Janácek (libretto), Fyodor Dostoevsky (based on "Memoirs from the House of the Dead")

Stars:

Olaf Bär, Stoklossa Eric, Stefan Margita

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Olaf Bär	...	Alexander Petrovich Goryanchikov
Stoklossa Eric	...	Alyeya
Stefan Margita	...	Filka Morosov, imprisoned under the name of Luka Kuzmich
Peter Straka	...	The tall prisoner
Vladimír Chmelo	...	The short prisoner
Sulzenko Jiri	...	The camp commandant
Heinz Zednik	...	The old prisoner
John Mark Ainsley	...	Skuratov
Jan Galla	...	Chekunov
Tomás Krejcirík	...	The drunken prisoner
Martin Bárta	...	The cook
Vratislav Kriz	...	The priest
Olivier Dumait	...	The young prisoner / a voice
Susannah Haberfeld	...	A prostitute
Ales Jenis	...	The prisoner acting Don Juan and the Brahim

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

opera | live performance | based on novel

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Genres:

Music

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Details

Country:

France Japan

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

15 March 2008 (France)

Also Known As:

Janácek: From the House of the Dead

Company Credits

Production Co:

Azor Films, Arte France, NHK

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of NET Opera Theater: From the House of the Dead (1969)

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Soundtracks

"Z mrtvého domu, Opera in three acts"
Written by Leos Janácek, based on "Memoires from the House of the Dead" by Fyodor Dostoevsky (as Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky)
Critical edition by Sir Charles Mackerras and John Tyrrell
with kind permission of Universal Edition, Vienna
Conducted by Pierre Boulez
Performed by Olaf Bär, Eric Stoklossa, Stefan Margita, Peter Straka,
Vladimír Chmelo, Jirí Sulzenko, Heinz Zednik, John Mark Ainsley, Jan Galla,
, Tomás Krejcirís, Martin Bárta, Vratislav Kríz, Olivier Dumait, Susannah Haberfeld,
, Ales Jenis, Marian Pavlovic, Peter Hoare, Gerd Grochowski, Andreas Conrad with Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Arnold Schoenberg Chor

User Reviews

Phenomenal, one of the best productions of any opera I've seen in a while

Opera has been a huge passion of mine for goodness knows how long. From the House of the Dead is one of Janacek's least performed works, and one does wonder why I think. It is not his best opera that said, Jenufa and The Cunning Little Vixen(the latter I think is his most accessible) are superior for me, but it is one that does deserve to be performed more than it does. I knew I was in for a treat before watching, Patrice Chereau since his 1980 Bayreuth Ring Cycle and 1994 Wozzeck I have always found interesting as a stage director, Pierre Boulez has always come across to me as enigmatic and I have liked Olaf Bar and John Mark Ainsley in previous productions. This production delivered on every single level. Some may find the production is rather drab and minimalistic and may not like this approach all that much, I personally loved it and thought that it fitted the haunting atmosphere of the opera perfectly. The staging is compelling and full of meaning, the eagle symbolism could have been obvious and heavy-handed but instead thankfully came across as telling. Musically the production is superb, with the orchestral playing powerful and full of pathos and Pierre Boulez's conducting is as enigmatic and perfect in tempo as ever. The singing I also can't fault, Olaf Bar makes for a very convincing nobleman and John Mark Ainsley embodies his role in every regard, it really is an exceptional performance. All in all, a really phenomenal production. 10/10 Bethany Cox