The Makropulos Case review – mesmerising Janáček at Royal Ballet and Opera | Opera + Classical Music Reviews

The Makropulos Case Review – Mesmerising Janáček at Royal Ballet and Opera

Jakub Hrůša’s dynamic conducting and Ausrine Stundyte’s commanding portrayal of Emilia Marty shape Katie Mitchell’s bold interpretation of Janáček’s enigmatic opera, marking a striking debut for Covent Garden.

The Makropulos Case production photo by Camilla Greenwell — The Makropulos Case (Photo: Camilla Greenwell)

A Rare Gem in the Repertoire

Janáček’s complex operatic masterpiece has finally reached the Royal Opera House, a long-awaited event that deserves appreciation. The opera is seldom staged, largely due to its demanding score, but this production proves deeply rewarding when performed at such a high level.

A Conductor’s Electrifying Vision

Jakub Hrůša, the Royal Ballet and Opera’s music director and a natural Janáček interpreter, inspired the orchestra with stunning vitality. The score’s fragmented rhythms and unpredictable tempo shifts, often tricky to deliver with warmth, here pulsed with dramatic energy.

“Every phrase felt purposeful; the orchestra never merely accompanied but told its own story of time, decay and memory.”

The brass shone with brilliance, the strings glimmered with sensitivity, and the woodwinds—so vital to Janáček’s sound world—were balanced with masterful clarity. Hrůša and his musicians navigated every challenge with striking confidence and artistry.

Outstanding Ensemble Performances

Ausrine Stundyte and Sean Panikkar performing in The Makropulos Case — Ausrine Stundyte and Sean Panikkar (Photo: Camilla Greenwell)

Ausrine Stundyte led an exceptional cast that formed a cohesive and finely tuned ensemble, each performer contributing with dedication and precision. The result was an interpretation that illuminated Janáček’s themes of immortality and human fragility with renewed intensity.

Author’s Summary

This Royal Opera House revival of Janáček’s The Makropulos Case dazzles with Hrůša’s passionate direction and Stundyte’s striking performance, revealing the opera’s haunting power anew.

musicOMH — 2025-11-06