Leoš Janáček's interpretation and misinterpretation of Dostoyevsky's The House of the Dead

Title: Leoš Janáček's interpretation and misinterpretation of Dostoyevsky's The House of the Dead
Source document: Musicologica Brunensia. 2016, vol. 51, iss. 2, pp. 27-40
Extent
27-40
  • ISSN
    1212-0391 (print)
    2336-436X (online)
Type: Article
Language
License: Not specified license
 

Notice: These citations are automatically created and might not follow citation rules properly.

Abstract(s)
This article analyses the approach Leoš Janáček undertook in translating the original Russian text of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky's The House of the Dead to the Czech language. Confusing to some, Janáček's work uses a surprising amount of either words directly transliterated from Russian or peculiar expressions with a meaning often unclear to Czech audiences. Thus, from a linguistic perspective, certain passages of the libretto lack internal logic. Since the composer's death, there have been numerous adjustments made in the sung text, however, the article focuses primarily on the original version which, even though less graspable by meaning, tends to maintain authenticity intended by Dostoyevsky.
References
[1] ДОСТОЕВСКИЙ, Федор Михайлович. Записки из мёртвого дома. Москва: Художественная литература, 1965.

[2] HAINS, Ernest. František Neumann a jeho brnenské pôsobenie v rokoch 1919–1929. Brno, 1967. Diploma thesis. Univerzita Jana Evangelisty Purkyně v Brně, Filozofická fakulta.

[3] CHLUBNA, Osvald. K úpravě opery "Z mrtvého domu". In Opery Leoše Janáčka na brněnské scéně. Brno: Státní divadlo v Brně, 1958, unpaginated.

[4] POLÁŠKOVÁ, Anežka. Z nevydaných textů muzikologa Vladimíra Lébla – Leoš Janáček a Rusko. Harmonie, 2013, No. 9, pp. 16–18.

[5] PŘIBÁŇOVÁ, Svatava. Hádanka života: Dopisy Leoše Janáčka Kamile Stösslové. Brno: Opus Musicum, 1990.

[6] SRSTKA, Jiří. Černá Janáčkova opera Z mrtvého domu. Věstník Dilia, podzim 2011, pp. 44–47.

[7] TYRRELL, John. Editing "From the House of the Dead". Musikblätter 2012, No. 3, pp. 28–29.

[8] VOKURKA, Martin – HUGO, Jan a kol. Velký lékařský slovník. Praha: Maxdorf, 2009.

[9] Фразеологисеский словар русского языка, Москва: Русский язык, 1986.