Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin notes: while this performance of Janácek’s Jenufa features the same three principal singers from the legendary Carnegie Hall concert of 1988, the fact that it is a staged performance raises the temperature even higher.

Plus Janácek specialist Charles Mackerras on the podium is a huge improvement over Eve Queler. Note the singer in the role of the Old Shepherdess!

Leos Janácek: Jenufa

San Francisco Opera
Charles Mackerras, conductor
19 September 1986

Jenufa – Gabriela Benacková
Kostelnicka Buryjovka – Leonie Rysanek
Laca Klemen – Wieslaw Ochman
Steva Buryja – Neil Rosenshein
Grandmother Buryjovka – Cristiane Young
Stárek – Mark Coles
Jano – Li-Cham Chen
The mayor – Monte Pederson
The mayor’s wife – Nikki Li Hartlep
Karolka – Kathryn Cowdrick
Barena – Vicki Shaghoian
An old shepherdess – Deborah Voigt
Kostelnicka’s aunt – Delia Voitoff