Composer

:

Leos Janácek

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

Nov 11, 1923 - Dec 3, 1925

Publication Date

:

1926

First Performance

:

Dec 18, 1926

Average_duration

:

96:54

The Makropulos Case is an opera composed by Leos Janácek in 1926. The plot revolves around the story of Emilia Marty, a famous opera singer who has lived for over 300 years due to a potion called "Makropulos." The opera is based on a play by Karel Capek, and the libretto was written by Janácek himself. The opera premiered on December 18, 1926, at the National Theatre in Brno, Czechoslovakia. It was conducted by Frantisek Neumann and directed by Otakar Zich. The opera was well-received by the audience and critics alike, and it has since become one of Janácek's most popular works. The Makropulos Case is divided into three acts, and it features a total of 14 musical movements. The music is characterized by Janácek's use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms, as well as his incorporation of folk melodies and motifs. The opera also features a large orchestra, which includes a number of unusual instruments such as the celesta and the harmonium. The story of The Makropulos Case centers around Emilia Marty, a famous opera singer who is actually a 337-year-old woman named Elina Makropulos. Elina has been living for centuries thanks to a potion created by her father, which she has been taking regularly. However, the potion is running out, and Elina is desperate to find a way to extend her life. Elina discovers that her father's formula is hidden in a legal document, the Makropulos Case, which is being held by a lawyer named Dr. Kolenaty. Elina seduces Kolenaty's young assistant, Albert Gregor, in order to gain access to the document. However, when she finally obtains the formula, she realizes that she no longer wants to live forever. The Makropulos Case is a complex and thought-provoking opera that explores themes of mortality, love, and the nature of humanity. Janácek's music perfectly captures the emotional depth of the story, and the opera remains a powerful and moving work to this day.

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