Lyric Opera 2023-2024 Issue 4 - Jenufa

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 20 ACT I: The Buryja Mill Jen ˚ufa waits anxiously to hear if her beloved Števa will be drafted, for she is carrying his child, and her secret will soon be known. She is relieved to learn that he has not been called up and so can marry her before the pregnancy becomes obvious. Števa’s jealous half-brother Laca secretly loves Jen ˚ufa. A drunken Števa staggers in with some other recruits and breaks into a rowdy dance. Their behavior incurs the disapproval of Jen ˚ufa’s stepmother, the Kostelniˇcka (not her name but her title—it means “village sacristan”), who tells Števa he can marry Jen ˚ufa only after a year of abstaining from drink. Left alone, Jen ˚ufa begs Števa to marry her as soon as possible. They are interrupted and Števa runs off declaring that he will never abandon Jen ˚ufa. After Števa has left, Laca tries to incite Jen ˚ufa’s anger against Števa; failing that, he impulsively slashes her cheek with a knife. The worker Barena, who has been looking on, tells the others it was an accident, but the Foreman, who knows of Laca’s true feelings for Jen ˚ufa, accuses Laca of hurting her deliberately. INTERMISSION ACT II: The Kostelniˇcka’s house, five months later While everyone thinks Jen ˚ufa has been sent away, the Kostelniˇcka has hidden her away at home, where she has given birth to a boy. Though Jen ˚ufa loves the child, the Kostelniˇcka cannot bear the shame. Having secretly sent for Števa, the Kostelniˇcka gives Jen ˚ufa a sleeping potion. When Števa arrives the Kostelniˇcka tells him about the baby and begs him to marry Jen ˚ufa and acknowledge his son. Števa refuses: he is now engaged to Karolka, the Mayor’s daughter. Distraught, the Kostelniˇcka turns to Laca, who is eager to marry Jen ˚ufa. He is so upset to hear about the baby that the Kostelniˇcka impulsively lies, claiming that the child is dead. Taking the baby, she heads for the freezing river to drown him. Jen ˚ufa wakes, disoriented, just as the Kostelniˇcka returns; the Kostelniˇcka tells her she has been in a fever for two days during which the baby has died. She also tells her of Števa’s forthcoming marriage. Laca returns and offers himself to Jen ˚ufa. He insists that he loves Jen ˚ufa despite everything, and she agrees to become his wife. INTERMISSION ACT III: Two months later The marriage between Jen ˚ufa and Laca is about to take place. Just as the couple are about to receive the Kostelniˇcka’s blessing, a commotion outside interrupts the ceremony; the body of a baby has been found in the thawing river. Jen ˚ufa realizes this must be her own child. Everyone now turns on Jen ˚ufa, but the Kostelniˇcka confesses her crime, begging the crowd to hold Jen ˚ufa blameless. As the Kostelniˇcka is led away to face her punishment, Jen ˚ufa forgives her stepmother. PRESENTING SPONSOR Julie & Roger Baskes PRODUCTION SPONSORS David W. Carpenter° and Orit K. Carpenter, in loving memory of David W. Carpenter Richard O. Ryan Patricia A. Kenney & Gregory J. O’Leary Jenůfa is produced in association with the Royal Opera House, Cov- ent Garden. This production was first seen at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on September 28, 2021. Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline,American Airlines. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS This production will be performed with two intermissions. Running time Act I 45 minutes Intermission 25 minutes Act II 55 minutes Intermission 25 minutes Act III 35 minutes TOTAL 3 hours 5 minutes LYRIC’S 2023/24 SEASON IS PRESENTED BY and Julie & Roger Baskes Synopsis PLACE | A village in Moravia TIME | 19th century