In a production that feels both timeless and startlingly contemporary, Katie Mitchell's revival of The Makropulos Case at the Royal Opera House has redefined what operatic storytelling can achieve. Leoš Janáček's philosophical exploration of immortality receives a stunning sci-fi makeover that captivates from opening note to final curtain.
A Star is Born: Stundytė's Mesmerising Performance
Lithuanian soprano Aušrinė Stundytė delivers what can only be described as a career-defining performance as Emilia Marty, the 337-year-old opera singer whose longevity becomes both blessing and curse. Her vocal power and emotional range navigate Janáček's demanding score with breathtaking precision, while her physical embodiment of centuries-lived weariness is utterly compelling.
Visionary Direction Meets Operatic Tradition
Mitchell's production masterfully bridges the gap between 1920s Prague and a dystopian future. The stage transforms into a clinical laboratory setting, where Emilia's eternal life is revealed to be the result of scientific experimentation rather than magical elixir. This bold reinterpretation amplifies the opera's central questions about mortality, meaning, and the price of endless existence.
Technical Brilliance and Musical Excellence
The Royal Opera House orchestra, under the baton of a conductor who understands Janáček's unique musical language, brings extraordinary depth to the score. The production's visual elements – from minimalist set design to innovative lighting – create a cohesive world that serves both the story's intellectual complexity and its raw emotional power.
Why This Production Demands Your Attention
- Relevant Themes: In an age obsessed with life extension and technological immortality, the opera's central questions feel more urgent than ever
- Visual Innovation: The sci-fi elements enhance rather than distract from Janáček's original vision
- Vocal Excellence: Stundytė's performance alone justifies the ticket price
- Intellectual Depth: This is opera that challenges as much as it entertains
This Makropulos Case represents everything modern opera should be: daring, intellectually stimulating, emotionally resonant, and visually spectacular. It confirms Mitchell's status as one of our most innovative directors and establishes Stundytė as a soprano of world-class stature.
The production runs through the season, offering London audiences a rare opportunity to experience opera that both honours tradition and fearlessly pushes it into the future.
