Publication details

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

Authors

KALINA Petr HUDECOVÁ Danuta

Year of publication 2016
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Musicologica Brunensia
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Web Digitální knihovna FF
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/MB2016-2-3
Field Art, architecture, cultural heritage
Keywords Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky; Leoš Janáček; From the House of the Dead; opera; libretto; transliteration; Russian language; Czech language; misinterpretation
Description 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.
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