About Magdalena Kozená

• Biography
• Essay

About Charles Mackerras

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

Bohuslav Martinu considered his ambitious 1937 opera, "Juliette (The Key to Dreams)," his most important work. The composer discovered the surreal and poetic play by Georges Neveux during an extended stay in Paris and began working on the opera to his own libretto in French, although he switched to a Czech version for its premiere in Prague. The opera was a success in its initial and subsequent productions, but has never gained a foothold in the international repertoire. It's a shame, because it's full of rhapsodic, evocative music. Martinu acknowledged that the opera, an exploration of the hazy world between dreams and consciousness, memory and reality, lacked a real plot, but the vividness of the characters and their dilemmas give it the coherence it needs to be dramatically compelling. Musically, its most obvious predecessors are a Debussyian impressionism, Stravinsky, from the period of the "Rite of Spring," and the operas of Martinu's countryman, Janácek. The opera's fragrant lyricism, brilliant orchestration that sometimes foreshadows Messiaen, profligate inventiveness, and harmonic lushness make a strong case for its revival, a work that should grab the attention of fans of post-Romantic opera. The composer prepared the "Three Fragments" from the opera soon after its premiere. The scenes, heard here in French, are given a gorgeous, luminous performance by Charles Mackerras leading the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Soprano Magdalena Kozená and tenor Steve Davislim sing with radiance, exceptional clarity, and a beautiful blend of purity and passion. The CD also includes a "Suite of orchestral excerpts" from the opera made by Zbynek Vostrak. Supraphon's sound is present, clean, and atmospheric. The whole enterprise leaves the listener longing to hear these exemplary forces tackle the complete opera. Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

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