Act 1 – The colonnade walk in Luhačovice
At the centre of attention of the many guests at the spa town is the poet Dr. Suda, who is there with his friends, Konečný and Lhotský, and a young lady named Míla. A new guest arrives, the composer Živný. The group is surprised to find that Živný and Míla have met before. New people appear on the scene: the singing teacher Miss Stuhlá, along with some young people who are looking forward to a scouting excursion with Dr. Suda. Most of the people then leave, and only Živný and Míla stay behind. Their previous love affair had been put to an end by Míla´s mother, for whom the prospect of her daughter living with a composer was comparable to a beggar´s existence. Živný has been composing an opera about his unfortunate fate ever since. Only now does he find out that he had wrongly suspected Míla of infidelity: her son Doubek is actually his son. The two lovers agree that they will live together, Míla´s mother notwithstanding.

Act 2 – The married couple´s apartment 
Živný sings excerpts from his opera. He must now delete those parts in which he unjustly accused Míla of faithlessness. Young Doubek asks his mother whether she knows what love is. Míla knows this far too well – love and the whole of her life are ruled by Fate, Fatum. Life with Míla´s mother is becoming hell. The mother´s insanity is increasing: she is forced to live under one roof with a man who, in her opinion, is interested only in her money. Živný appears to her like a wicked raven. She wants to fly away from him, but falls off the balcony and drags Míla down with her. Živný is in despair about his wife´s death. He invites thunderbolts to strike at his wretched fate.

Act 3 – The assembly hall of the conservatoire
Students are singing from the score of the new opera written by their Professor Živný. The work is to have its premiere in the theatre that evening, but the last act is still missing. The students ask their teacher to tell them something about his strange opera. With great animation, Živný speaks about the origin of the piece, and the surprised students realize that the content of the opera is in fact their professor’s very own life story. Živný´s narration is just getting close to the point of Míla´s death when suddenly thunderbolts from a real storm can be seen. Živný collapses. The end of his opera remains unfinished and in the hands of God, much like Živný´s fate.

Conductor: Marko Ivanović

Stage director: Robert Carsen

Dramaturgy: Ian Burton

Set Design: Radu Boruzescu

Costume Design: Annemarie Woods

Lighting Design: Peter van Praet a Robert Carsen

Choreography: Lorena Randi

Choirmaster: Pavel Koňárek

Assistant Stage Director: Gilles Rico

CAST:

Živný, a composer: Enrico Casari & Philip Sheffield

Míla Válková: Alžběta Poláčková

Míla´s mother: Natascha Petrinsky

Dr. Suda: Peter Račko

Lhotský, malíř: Jan Šťáva

Konečný: Igor Loškár

Miss Stuhlá, a teacher: Daniela Straková-Šedrlová

Doubek (child): Kryštof Cholava

Poet: Michael Robotka

First lady / Miss Pacovská: Andrea Široká

Second lady / Mrs. Majorová: Tereza Kyzlinková

Student: Michael Robotka

Old Slovak woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Mrs. Radová: Jana Hrochová

Young widow: Hana Kopřivová

Engineer: Pavel Valenta

Verva, student: Lukáš Bařák

Součková, student: Marta Reichelová

Kosinská, student: Jarmila Balážová

Doubek: Daniel Matoušek

Sklepník: Ivo Musil

Hrázda: Ondřej Koplík

Servant: Petr Štych

Nána: Kristýna Svítilová

Lhotský, painter: Jan Šťáva

Act 1 – The colonnade walk in Luhačovice
At the centre of attention of the many guests at the spa town is the poet Dr. Suda, who is there with his friends, Konečný and Lhotský, and a young lady named Míla. A new guest arrives, the composer Živný. The group is surprised to find that Živný and Míla have met before. New people appear on the scene: the singing teacher Miss Stuhlá, along with some young people who are looking forward to a scouting excursion with Dr. Suda. Most of the people then leave, and only Živný and Míla stay behind. Their previous love affair had been put to an end by Míla´s mother, for whom the prospect of her daughter living with a composer was comparable to a beggar´s existence. Živný has been composing an opera about his unfortunate fate ever since. Only now does he find out that he had wrongly suspected Míla of infidelity: her son Doubek is actually his son. The two lovers agree that they will live together, Míla´s mother notwithstanding.

Act 2 – The married couple´s apartment 
Živný sings excerpts from his opera. He must now delete those parts in which he unjustly accused Míla of faithlessness. Young Doubek asks his mother whether she knows what love is. Míla knows this far too well – love and the whole of her life are ruled by Fate, Fatum. Life with Míla´s mother is becoming hell. The mother´s insanity is increasing: she is forced to live under one roof with a man who, in her opinion, is interested only in her money. Živný appears to her like a wicked raven. She wants to fly away from him, but falls off the balcony and drags Míla down with her. Živný is in despair about his wife´s death. He invites thunderbolts to strike at his wretched fate.

Act 3 – The assembly hall of the conservatoire
Students are singing from the score of the new opera written by their Professor Živný. The work is to have its premiere in the theatre that evening, but the last act is still missing. The students ask their teacher to tell them something about his strange opera. With great animation, Živný speaks about the origin of the piece, and the surprised students realize that the content of the opera is in fact their professor’s very own life story. Živný´s narration is just getting close to the point of Míla´s death when suddenly thunderbolts from a real storm can be seen. Živný collapses. The end of his opera remains unfinished and in the hands of God, much like Živný´s fate.

Conductor: Marko Ivanović

Stage director: Robert Carsen

Dramaturgy: Ian Burton

Set Design: Radu Boruzescu

Costume Design: Annemarie Woods

Lighting Design: Peter van Praet a Robert Carsen

Choreography: Lorena Randi

Choirmaster: Pavel Koňárek

Assistant Stage Director: Gilles Rico

CAST:

Živný, a composer: Enrico Casari & Philip Sheffield

Míla Válková: Alžběta Poláčková

Míla´s mother: Natascha Petrinsky

Dr. Suda: Peter Račko

Lhotský, malíř: Jan Šťáva

Konečný: Igor Loškár

Miss Stuhlá, a teacher: Daniela Straková-Šedrlová

Doubek (child): Kryštof Cholava

Poet: Michael Robotka

First lady / Miss Pacovská: Andrea Široká

Second lady / Mrs. Majorová: Tereza Kyzlinková

Student: Michael Robotka

Old Slovak woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Mrs. Radová: Jana Hrochová

Young widow: Hana Kopřivová

Engineer: Pavel Valenta

Verva, student: Lukáš Bařák

Součková, student: Marta Reichelová

Kosinská, student: Jarmila Balážová

Doubek: Daniel Matoušek

Sklepník: Ivo Musil

Hrázda: Ondřej Koplík

Servant: Petr Štych

Nána: Kristýna Svítilová

Lhotský, painter: Jan Šťáva

Act 1 – The colonnade walk in Luhačovice
At the centre of attention of the many guests at the spa town is the poet Dr. Suda, who is there with his friends, Konečný and Lhotský, and a young lady named Míla. A new guest arrives, the composer Živný. The group is surprised to find that Živný and Míla have met before. New people appear on the scene: the singing teacher Miss Stuhlá, along with some young people who are looking forward to a scouting excursion with Dr. Suda. Most of the people then leave, and only Živný and Míla stay behind. Their previous love affair had been put to an end by Míla´s mother, for whom the prospect of her daughter living with a composer was comparable to a beggar´s existence. Živný has been composing an opera about his unfortunate fate ever since. Only now does he find out that he had wrongly suspected Míla of infidelity: her son Doubek is actually his son. The two lovers agree that they will live together, Míla´s mother notwithstanding.

Act 2 – The married couple´s apartment 
Živný sings excerpts from his opera. He must now delete those parts in which he unjustly accused Míla of faithlessness. Young Doubek asks his mother whether she knows what love is. Míla knows this far too well – love and the whole of her life are ruled by Fate, Fatum. Life with Míla´s mother is becoming hell. The mother´s insanity is increasing: she is forced to live under one roof with a man who, in her opinion, is interested only in her money. Živný appears to her like a wicked raven. She wants to fly away from him, but falls off the balcony and drags Míla down with her. Živný is in despair about his wife´s death. He invites thunderbolts to strike at his wretched fate.

Act 3 – The assembly hall of the conservatoire
Students are singing from the score of the new opera written by their Professor Živný. The work is to have its premiere in the theatre that evening, but the last act is still missing. The students ask their teacher to tell them something about his strange opera. With great animation, Živný speaks about the origin of the piece, and the surprised students realize that the content of the opera is in fact their professor’s very own life story. Živný´s narration is just getting close to the point of Míla´s death when suddenly thunderbolts from a real storm can be seen. Živný collapses. The end of his opera remains unfinished and in the hands of God, much like Živný´s fate.

Conductor: Marko Ivanović

Stage director: Robert Carsen

Dramaturgy: Ian Burton

Set Design: Radu Boruzescu

Costume Design: Annemarie Woods

Lighting Design: Peter van Praet a Robert Carsen

Choreography: Lorena Randi

Choirmaster: Pavel Koňárek

Assistant Stage Director: Gilles Rico

CAST:

Živný, a composer: Enrico Casari & Philip Sheffield

Míla Válková: Alžběta Poláčková

Míla´s mother: Natascha Petrinsky

Dr. Suda: Peter Račko

Lhotský, malíř: Jan Šťáva

Konečný: Igor Loškár

Miss Stuhlá, a teacher: Daniela Straková-Šedrlová

Doubek (child): Kryštof Cholava

Poet: Michael Robotka

First lady / Miss Pacovská: Andrea Široká

Second lady / Mrs. Majorová: Tereza Kyzlinková

Student: Michael Robotka

Old Slovak woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Mrs. Radová: Jana Hrochová

Young widow: Hana Kopřivová

Engineer: Pavel Valenta

Verva, student: Lukáš Bařák

Součková, student: Marta Reichelová

Kosinská, student: Jarmila Balážová

Doubek: Daniel Matoušek

Sklepník: Ivo Musil

Hrázda: Ondřej Koplík

Servant: Petr Štych

Nána: Kristýna Svítilová

Lhotský, painter: Jan Šťáva

Act 1 – The colonnade walk in Luhačovice
At the centre of attention of the many guests at the spa town is the poet Dr. Suda, who is there with his friends, Konečný and Lhotský, and a young lady named Míla. A new guest arrives, the composer Živný. The group is surprised to find that Živný and Míla have met before. New people appear on the scene: the singing teacher Miss Stuhlá, along with some young people who are looking forward to a scouting excursion with Dr. Suda. Most of the people then leave, and only Živný and Míla stay behind. Their previous love affair had been put to an end by Míla´s mother, for whom the prospect of her daughter living with a composer was comparable to a beggar´s existence. Živný has been composing an opera about his unfortunate fate ever since. Only now does he find out that he had wrongly suspected Míla of infidelity: her son Doubek is actually his son. The two lovers agree that they will live together, Míla´s mother notwithstanding.

Act 2 – The married couple´s apartment 
Živný sings excerpts from his opera. He must now delete those parts in which he unjustly accused Míla of faithlessness. Young Doubek asks his mother whether she knows what love is. Míla knows this far too well – love and the whole of her life are ruled by Fate, Fatum. Life with Míla´s mother is becoming hell. The mother´s insanity is increasing: she is forced to live under one roof with a man who, in her opinion, is interested only in her money. Živný appears to her like a wicked raven. She wants to fly away from him, but falls off the balcony and drags Míla down with her. Živný is in despair about his wife´s death. He invites thunderbolts to strike at his wretched fate.

Act 3 – The assembly hall of the conservatoire
Students are singing from the score of the new opera written by their Professor Živný. The work is to have its premiere in the theatre that evening, but the last act is still missing. The students ask their teacher to tell them something about his strange opera. With great animation, Živný speaks about the origin of the piece, and the surprised students realize that the content of the opera is in fact their professor’s very own life story. Živný´s narration is just getting close to the point of Míla´s death when suddenly thunderbolts from a real storm can be seen. Živný collapses. The end of his opera remains unfinished and in the hands of God, much like Živný´s fate.

Conductor: Marko Ivanović

Stage director: Robert Carsen

Dramaturgy: Ian Burton

Set Design: Radu Boruzescu

Costume Design: Annemarie Woods

Lighting Design: Peter van Praet a Robert Carsen

Choreography: Lorena Randi

Choirmaster: Pavel Koňárek

Assistant Stage Director: Gilles Rico

CAST:

Živný, a composer: Enrico Casari & Philip Sheffield

Míla Válková: Alžběta Poláčková

Míla´s mother: Natascha Petrinsky

Dr. Suda: Peter Račko

Lhotský, malíř: Jan Šťáva

Konečný: Igor Loškár

Miss Stuhlá, a teacher: Daniela Straková-Šedrlová

Doubek (child): Kryštof Cholava

Poet: Michael Robotka

First lady / Miss Pacovská: Andrea Široká

Second lady / Mrs. Majorová: Tereza Kyzlinková

Student: Michael Robotka

Old Slovak woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Mrs. Radová: Jana Hrochová

Young widow: Hana Kopřivová

Engineer: Pavel Valenta

Verva, student: Lukáš Bařák

Součková, student: Marta Reichelová

Kosinská, student: Jarmila Balážová

Doubek: Daniel Matoušek

Sklepník: Ivo Musil

Hrázda: Ondřej Koplík

Servant: Petr Štych

Nána: Kristýna Svítilová

Lhotský, painter: Jan Šťáva

Act 1 – The colonnade walk in Luhačovice
At the centre of attention of the many guests at the spa town is the poet Dr. Suda, who is there with his friends, Konečný and Lhotský, and a young lady named Míla. A new guest arrives, the composer Živný. The group is surprised to find that Živný and Míla have met before. New people appear on the scene: the singing teacher Miss Stuhlá, along with some young people who are looking forward to a scouting excursion with Dr. Suda. Most of the people then leave, and only Živný and Míla stay behind. Their previous love affair had been put to an end by Míla´s mother, for whom the prospect of her daughter living with a composer was comparable to a beggar´s existence. Živný has been composing an opera about his unfortunate fate ever since. Only now does he find out that he had wrongly suspected Míla of infidelity: her son Doubek is actually his son. The two lovers agree that they will live together, Míla´s mother notwithstanding.

Act 2 – The married couple´s apartment 
Živný sings excerpts from his opera. He must now delete those parts in which he unjustly accused Míla of faithlessness. Young Doubek asks his mother whether she knows what love is. Míla knows this far too well – love and the whole of her life are ruled by Fate, Fatum. Life with Míla´s mother is becoming hell. The mother´s insanity is increasing: she is forced to live under one roof with a man who, in her opinion, is interested only in her money. Živný appears to her like a wicked raven. She wants to fly away from him, but falls off the balcony and drags Míla down with her. Živný is in despair about his wife´s death. He invites thunderbolts to strike at his wretched fate.

Act 3 – The assembly hall of the conservatoire
Students are singing from the score of the new opera written by their Professor Živný. The work is to have its premiere in the theatre that evening, but the last act is still missing. The students ask their teacher to tell them something about his strange opera. With great animation, Živný speaks about the origin of the piece, and the surprised students realize that the content of the opera is in fact their professor’s very own life story. Živný´s narration is just getting close to the point of Míla´s death when suddenly thunderbolts from a real storm can be seen. Živný collapses. The end of his opera remains unfinished and in the hands of God, much like Živný´s fate.

Conductor: Marko Ivanović

Stage director: Robert Carsen

Dramaturgy: Ian Burton

Set Design: Radu Boruzescu

Costume Design: Annemarie Woods

Lighting Design: Peter van Praet a Robert Carsen

Choreography: Lorena Randi

Choirmaster: Pavel Koňárek

Assistant Stage Director: Gilles Rico

CAST:

Živný, a composer: Enrico Casari & Philip Sheffield

Míla Válková: Alžběta Poláčková

Míla´s mother: Natascha Petrinsky

Dr. Suda: Peter Račko

Lhotský, malíř: Jan Šťáva

Konečný: Igor Loškár

Miss Stuhlá, a teacher: Daniela Straková-Šedrlová

Doubek (child): Kryštof Cholava

Poet: Michael Robotka

First lady / Miss Pacovská: Andrea Široká

Second lady / Mrs. Majorová: Tereza Kyzlinková

Student: Michael Robotka

Old Slovak woman: Jitka Zerhauová

Mrs. Radová: Jana Hrochová

Young widow: Hana Kopřivová

Engineer: Pavel Valenta

Verva, student: Lukáš Bařák

Součková, student: Marta Reichelová

Kosinská, student: Jarmila Balážová

Doubek: Daniel Matoušek

Sklepník: Ivo Musil

Hrázda: Ondřej Koplík

Servant: Petr Štych

Nána: Kristýna Svítilová

Lhotský, painter: Jan Šťáva