Author Description

Responding to the ever-increasing popularity and international performances of operas by the Czech composer Leoš Janácek, this collection, meet the needs of English-speaking singers, conductors, coaches, and stage directors and conveniently provides idiomatic and word-for-word translations, including translations of stage and musical directions. In addition, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is used to indicate Czech pronunciation, following the clearly-presented method given in the author's book Singing in Czech: A Guide to Czech Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire, with a foreword by Sir Charles Mackerras. Cheek also provides practical notes about Janácek's style, both in general terms and specific issues relating to this opera along with a plot summary with translations and vocal ranges of characters and the pronunciation of their names. The first volume is the full translation of The Cunning Little Vixen in English alongside the original Czech. The second volume on Kát'a Kabanová, will help make productions in the original Czech much easier a task than ever before.