The Janáček Opera Libretti: Kát'a Kabanová

Book excerpt: Responding to the ever-increasing popularity and international performances of operas by the Czech composer Leo? Jan cek, this volume is the second in a series to meet the needs of English-speaking singers, conductors, coaches, and stage directors. Every word of K t'a Kabanov is translated into English, and idiomatic translations are provided, including translations of stage and musical directions. In addition, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is used to indicate pronunciation, following the clearly-presented method given in the author's book Singing in Czech: A Guide to Czech Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire (Scarecrow Press, 2001). Included are practical notes about Jan cek's style, both in general terms and specific issues relating to this opera. A plot summary is provided along with translations of characters, ranges, and the pronunciation of their names. The entire volume is organized in a clear, readable format, resulting in a book that will help to make productions of K t'a Kabanov in the original Czech much easier a task than ever before.