The second release in LSO Live's cycle of Janáček opera recordings, "Katya Kabanova" tells a story of love, entrapment and, ultimately, tragedy. The album's cast includes the superb tenor Simon O'Neill and, appearing in one of her signature roles as seen at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Amanda Majeski as Katya.

"Majeski gives such heartfelt commitment to the role of Katya that one worries how she can come back down from the emotional peaks and precipices that she scales." – Opera Today

Katya is young, sensitive and desperate for love. But trapped in a remote country village with a bored husband and his snobbish family, she has no way out, until a summer thunderstorm changes everything. Uncompromisingly honest, and pulsing with intensely human emotion, the story of Katya Kabanova is written in music that cuts straight to the chase. The LSO's concert stagings of classic operas always make headlines: and this one was no different. Enjoy this recording, captured live at the Barbican in January 2023 under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle.

Composer Leoš Janáček
Conductor Sir Simon Rattle
Soloists Amanda Majeski (Katya), Simon O'Neill (Boris), Katarina Dalayman (Kabanicha), Andrew Staples (Tichon), Ladislav Elgr (Kudrjash), Magdalena Kožená (Varvara), Pavlo Hunka (Dikoy), Claire Barnett-Jones (Glasha & Feklusha), Lukáš Zeman (Kuligin)
Performers London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus

Disc 1
Katya Kabanova - Act I
1. Scene 1, Introduction
2. Scene 1, "Zázrak!"
3. Scene 1, "Přišel jsi sem lelky chytat?"
4. Scene 1, "Je baryňa doma?"
5. Scene 1, "Co pak je?"
6. Scene 1, "A potom běž domů"
7. Intermezzo I
8. Scene 2, "Víš co mi napadlo?"
9. Scene 2, "Zdráva..."
10. Scene 2, "Ale nač tobě to vykládám?"
11. Scene 2, "Což pak už mne nemáš rád?"
12. Scene 2, "Abych ani otce"

Disc 2
Katya Kabanova - Act II
1. Scene 1, "Vida, chvástala jsi se"
2. Scene 1, "Půjdu též se projít"
3. Scene 1, "Nic zvláštního, jenom jsem trochu
nachmelen"
4. Scene 2, Introduction
5. Scene 2, "Nikoho tu není!"
6. Scene 2, "Za vodou, za vodičkou"
7. Scene 2, "Jste to vy, Katěrino Petrovno?"
8. Scene 2, "Nuže, shodli jste se?"
9. Scene 2, "Choď si, dívka, do času"

Katya Kabanova - Act III
10. Scene 1, Introduction - "Krápe!"
11. Scene 1, "Celého mne to pokropilo"
12. Scene 1, "Pssst! Pssst! Zdá se, že je to on!"
13. Scene 1, "Tu jdou! Maminka jde s nimi!"
14. Scene 2, "Ach Glašo!"
15. Scene 2, "Vidět se s ním"
16. Scene 2, "Proč se tak chovají?"
17. Scene 2, "Ale smrt nepřichází"
18. Scene 2, "Svedl nás Bůh!"
19. Scene 2, "Ale ne!"
20. Scene 2, "Ptáčci přiletí na mohylu

Release Date 23 February 2024
LSO0889 | 0822231188926

Producer Andrew Cornall
Engineers Neil Hutchinson and Jonathan Stokes for Classic Sound Ltd
Recorded 11 & 13 January 2023, Barbican, London

Booklet in English, French & German

Libretto in Czech with English translation

Sung in Czech

ALAC - 24bit 96kHz - Compatible with Apple devices (MacOS and iOS)
FLAC - 24bit 96kHz - Compatible with Windows and Android devices
MP3 - 320kbps - Universal compatibility
SACD - Compatible with all CD players