Janáček pokes fun at philistines — and anticipates Woke

Why has no one written an opera about “Woke”? But they have.

Just over a hundred years ago, Leoš Janáček dealt with not dissimilar issues in The Excursions of Mr Brouček (1920). This vulgar Czech Everyman likes simple pleasures, uncomplicated ideas, and copious amounts of beer. Janáček’s aim was for the audience to be disgusted with him and his ilk, “to stamp on them and strangle them”. Indeed the very name Brouček means “Little Beetle”, representing the pettiness of the bourgeoisie in the Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia.

It hardly seems a promising theme and the composer had great difficulty finding a librettist. He wrote half the text himself, and each new author produced a new idea, some feeling that Janáček had failed to do justice to the novels by Svatopluk Čech on which he was basing the opera. It can’t have been easy for them as the composer began writing the music with no libretto, and his friend Max Brod, who did the German translations of his work, even suggested that Janáček abandon the idea of a satire and treat the whole thing as a burlesque.

It all amounted to a painful gestation, but the composer succeeds rather brilliantly.

There are two parts. The first is his visit to the moon, the second to the 15th century during the time of that seminal figure in the Bohemian reformation, Jan Hus — a Czech progenitor of Protestantism a century before Martin Luther. Both excursions are the result of Brouček’s inebriation. Although we should probably be disgusted by this drunkard’s assertion of his rights, dismissing those who consider themselves his betters, we find a sneaking admiration for his vulgarities.

In David Pountney’s adaptation of the original Czech libretto one sees allusions to contemporary issues. In his novels, Čech was poking fun at pretentiousness, and the Moonbeings are achingly correct in their modern attitudes. Their silver costumes give an appearance of effortless superiority, and the apparent gender fluidity of the dancers plays into the representation of a world with which the philistine Brouček has no sympathy at all. Pountney’s production offers a gloriously light touch that engages the audience right to end of the moon excursion, as our main protagonist dances a pas-de-deux with an attractive young woman who turns into a mechanical carpet sweeper.

The 15th century characters in the second part display their gravitas by standing in heavy costumes on small platforms wheeled around by barely visible assistants. This places them well above Brouček, which they are, of course. These are serious intellectuals who can muster an army, and we briefly see soldiers on stage, behind tall shields, and Brouček is accused of being German, since his way of speaking is unfamiliar. Placards allude to the Russian invasion that squashed the Prague Spring in 1968, but the Czechs remain true to their own culture. The noble bearing of the Hussites shows that powerful neighbours can find their comeuppance, a clear allusion to this year’s Russian invasion of Ukraine, bringing matters entirely up to date.

Excellent musical direction by George Jackson conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra, and Peter Hoare made an outstanding Brouček. Very fine singing from FFleur Wyn, Mark Le Brocq, Andrew Shore, Clive Bayley and others, mostly performing roles in both parts.

In some ways this work is two operas, unified by Janáček’s imaginative music, but none the worse for that. I left Part I with a great feeling of well-being, and Part II with a sense that human beetles like Brouček, however philistine, will always live their own lives despite the heavy hand of history. Altogether a very welcome production of one of Janáček’s lesser known operas, and congratulations to Grange Park Opera for this season’s opener.

A Message from TheArticle

We are the only publication that’s committed to covering every angle. We have an important contribution to make, one that’s needed now more than ever, and we need your help to continue publishing throughout the pandemic. So please, make a donation.