FOTO: BETTINA VOLKE
News
JK
JANA KURUCOVÁ
Welcome
to my official
website
I’m thrilled to share my journey in the world of opera with you. Here, you'll find information about my past and upcoming performances, as well as insights into my musical journey. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or discovering my work for the first time, I hope this site gives you a glimpse into my passion for the art of opera. Thank you for visiting, and I look forward to connecting with you through music!
Your Jana Kurucová
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CALENDAR
LATEST PRESS
MOZART: COSÌ FAN TUTTE (DORABELLA)
HAMBURG STATE OPERA, June 2024
"Dorabella's first appearance brings joy. What a perfect role for Jana Kurucová. The role of Dorabella fits her like a glove. Her warm, rounded, rich mezzo-soprano, slightly darkened, sounds incredibly full and nuanced. She captivates with her playful spirit and charm. You immediately believe her as the more mischievous of the sisters."
https://klassik-begeistert.de/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-cosi-fan-tutte...
"Rarely, if ever, have I heard the farewell trio (No. 10: 'Soave sia il vento') performed as beautifully as by Adriana González, Chao Deng, and Jana Kurucová. Both singers possess enough vocal power to fill even the farthest corners of the hall, and both sing with almost no vibrato or use it artistically when needed, to convey states of emotional suspension. González’s soprano is somewhat softer and rounder than Kurucová’s richly textured mezzo, but without any hint of hardness in the latter. This perfectly matches the emotional states of the two women, with Fiordiligi as the more sensitive and Dorabella as the more decisive of the two Ferrara sisters. In perfect harmony, they sing with sufficient vocal power, enchanting vocal beauty, and different yet complementary vocal tones." (by Dr. Ralf Wegner)
SMETANA: THE SECRET (ROZA)
NATIONAL THEATER PRAG, June 2024
INTERVIEW
Ms. Kurucová, is your current role in the opera "The Secret" your first in a work by Smetana?
"Yes, it’s like a first love. This is indeed my first time singing in a Smetana opera. It’s also a bit of a paradox because the role of Róza is about first love. So, everything has come together very nicely. The piece isn’t performed very often. Since I sing a lot abroad, mainly in Germany, I haven’t had the opportunity to perform in a Smetana opera before. Abroad, Dvořák and Janáček are performed much more frequently. The roles in their operas are very well-written. But I can say that sometimes it’s quite nice to wait a little for special treasures."
Did you know the opera’s director, Ondřej Havelka, beforehand?
"We got along great right from the start—maybe because I love directors who are extroverted and communicative. I’m very excited that I will also be part of his next production—Janáček’s *The Cunning Little Vixen*—this December at the National Theatre. Ondřej Havelka is definitely one of the directors I love working with."
Do you have a dream role that you would like to sing in one of the Czech operas?
"I would definitely like to be involved in *Jenůfa* and *The Makropulos Affair* in the future. I have to say that the three Czech composers, Dvořák, Smetana, and Janáček, are very different...".
https://deutsch.radio.cz/im-ausland-kaum-bekannt-smetanas-oper-das-geheimnis...
DVOŘÁK: STABAT MATER
SLOVAK PHILHARMONIE BRATISLAVA, 27.&28. March 2024
"For mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová, this is not her first encounter with this piece either. She brought warmth and brilliance to the role, sensitively shaping expression and dynamics (both aspects harmonized with the voices of the women's ensemble), and she was technically and stylistically assured, with precise intonation."
https://operaslovakia.sk/v-slovenskej-filharmonii-velkonocne-s-dvorakovou-stabat-mater/...
"Mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová delivered her solo 'Inflammatus et accensus' with great success. Kurucová's voice has become darker and gained in richness."
https://blog.sme.sk/vierapolakovicova/kultura/stabat-mater-v-slovenskej...
DONIZETTI:ANNA BOLENA
(GIOVANNA SEYMOPUR)
DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN, March 2024
"Her rival was the Slovak mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová, who has also established herself in major opera houses within the bel canto repertoire. Her lyrical mezzo-soprano is becoming increasingly powerful, handles the range of the role with ease, and has the necessary agility. Her voice is tonally balanced, with brilliance in every register, and harmonized well with her partners. In terms of acting and expression, she fully embraced the given concept and rightly earned the final ovations."
https://operaslovakia.sk/v-berlinskej-anne-bolene-sa-blysla-aj-jana-kurucova/
DVOŘÁK: RUSALKA
(FOREIGN PRINCESS)
OPÉRA ROYAL DE WALLONIE LIÈGE; February 2024
"As for Jana Kurucová, her velvety yet assertive and extravagant tone fit perfectly with her role as the "bad girl" who wanted to keep the prince away from Rusalka, only to reject him later. She captured the perversity of the character perfectly."
https://magazine.culturius.com/la-romantique-rusalka-dantonin-dvorak/
"The deeply loathsome Princess is brilliantly portrayed by Jana Kurucová. Cruelty and seduction make the mezzo-soprano a dangerous adversary who relies on the overwhelming power of her formidable voice."
DVOŘÁK: RUSALKA
(FOREIGN PRINCESS)
OPÉRA ROYAL DE WALLONIE LIÈGE; January 2024
"Corinne Winters ... Rusalka is vulnerable, which fits the character and music beautifully... she aimed to position herself as the vocal counterpart to the Foreign Princess. As the latter, Jana Kurucová is a highlight of the evening."
"Jana Kurucová (the Foreign Princess) impresses with her commitment and vocal power. Outstanding."
SONG RECITAL: DVOŘÁK, A. MAHLER, SCHÖNBERG
HAMBURG STATE OPERA, December 2023
WITH STEPHAN MATTHIAS LADEMANN (PIANO)
„Kurucová succeeds in conveying a wide range of emotions with her warm, effortlessly modulated, and flawlessly controlled voice, even to those who do not understand Czech."
"Jana Kurucová, through her passion, dreaminess, and a musical wink during 'I walk among flowers,' wins us over to Alma Mahler's talent and her individuality and distinctiveness as a woman and composer."
"As an encore, Kurucová and Lademann presented us with the singer's favorite song, 'The Room,' by Alban Berg. With this short piece, which speaks of warmth and affection, she then sent her audience, who were captivated by the entire performance, into the holiday season.“
(Photo: Lydia Stach)
https://operngestalten.de/2023/12/03/opera-stabile-after-work-traeume/...
WORLD PREMIERE:
VOSEČEK: POLTRON V, QUE TU ES
CZECH PHILHARMONIC PRAG, November 2023
„The mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová proved to be an ideal performer in the interpretation of Voseček's music. Her flexible and technically assured voice matched Voseček's composition perfectly.“
SONG RECITAL: DVOŘÁK, A. MAHLER, HRUŠOVSKÝ, SCHÖNBERG
SLOVAK PHILHARMONIC BRATISLAVA, 7.11.2023
WITH STEPHAN MATTHIAS LADEMANN (PIANO)
"Jana Kurucová has mastered this cycle (Dvořák: *Songs on Words from the Manuscript of the King's Scribe*, Op. 7) for quite some time... Her expressive interpretation of each song is characterized by honesty and emotional depth, thoughtfully crafted down to the smallest detail. In the opening ballad, "Kytice," the soloist reveals a soft, warm tone that caresses the listener’s senses in gentle phrases. "Róže," the title of the second song, is delivered in an enchanting legato, with dynamic nuances ranging from the faintest pianissimo to piano, and a profound connection to every word...
She presented the complete cycle of five songs (Alma Mahler)... It was another fascinating experience to observe the sensitivity of each song (...) in its specific moods and layers of expression. Delicacy, inner emotional movements, gentle legato phrases on the piano, the nuanced use of vibrato from almost none to natural, and above all, emotion and poetry—these are perhaps the key features that Jana Kurucová, together with her pianist, infused into Alma Mahler's songs, delighting the listener...
The musicianship and intellectual sensitivity of both artists are integral to their performance, where technical mastery, whether in singing or piano playing, is a given. These qualities are also reflected in their interpretation of "Three Reflections" by Slovak composer Ivan Hrušovský.
The final section was dedicated to Arnold Schoenberg and his work *4 Songs, Op. 2*. Jana Kurucová contributed a soft, sculpted, velvety tone to the individual songs, with sensitive shading of vocal expression (reminding me of the magic of brush and color palette when painting a picture), dynamics, and feeling." (translated from Slovak)
STRAUSS: SALOME
(PAGE)
HAMBURG STATE OPERA, Oktober-November 2023
"Jana Kurucová delighted as the Page, and Oleksiy Palchikov delivered a touching performance as Narraboth..."
"All roles, even the smaller ones, are portrayed with great psychological intensity, including the Page, sung powerfully by Jana Kurucová."
http://www.operapoint.com/?p=8443
DVOŘÁK: RUSALKA
(HEXE/FREMDE FÜRSTIN)
STATE PHILAHRMONIC KOŠICE, September.2023
"Mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová performed two roles, the Witch and the Foreign Princess. Although the Foreign Princess is typically assigned to a soprano, the soloist effortlessly mastered this vocal range as well. With her powerful mezzo-soprano, vocal potential, and expressive delivery, she was able to create the illusion of two distinct worlds—the fairy-tale and the human—through her interpretation of both roles."
https://operaslovakia.sk/dvorakova-opera-rusalka-mimoriadny-koncert-v-statnej-filharmonii-kosice/...
"And the best for last: The Slovak mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová delivered a truly expressive interpretation of both roles, and particularly as the Foreign Princess, she showcased her playful and powerful voice in contrast to Kněžíková's lyrical tone. Fascinating and full of acting charm, she played with both roles and delivered a captivating performance.."
https://www.klasikaplus.cz/reflexe-2/item/10314-uspesne-koncertni-provedeni-rusalky-v-kosicich...
CONCERT LUCIA POPP TRIBUTE
SLOVAK. NATION. THEATER BRATISLAVA, September 2023
"The male roles were in the hands of mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová, who brilliantly performed the duet with soprano Simona Šaturová in Mozart's opera *Idomeneo* as well as the finale from the iconic opera *Der Rosenkavalier* by Richard Strauss. Kurucová and Šaturová seemed to breathe as one, with perfect harmony and captivating, subtle acting."
https://blog.sme.sk/vierapolakovicova/kultura/lucia-popp-tribute...
During the gala concert, this duet was performed by Simona Šaturová and Jana Kurucová. Their joint creation was an indescribable musical experience. Šaturová's richly colored and beautifully rounded soft tone harmonized perfectly with Kurucová's brighter and clearer mezzo-soprano, which resonated brilliantly in the higher and middle registers. Their singing together (I’m not hesitant to call it harmonious unity) was so perfectly synchronized that the resulting tonal effect gave the impression of not two singers' voices, but two flutes playing. Together, they created a lyrical, delicate, and extremely ethereal atmosphere that highlighted the beautiful nuances of Strauss's music. For me, this was the second musical highlight of the evening."
OFFENBACH: LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN
(MUSE/NICKLAUSSE)
HAMBURG STATE OPERA , May-June 2023
"Jana Kurucová is also completely convincing as the Muse and Nicklausse. Her mezzo-soprano is very present, versatile in its modulation, and provides a well-balanced counterweight to Hoffmann's role. She makes it clear how important this role is in the opera, especially regarding the psychological aspects of the alter ego and the self-reflection of the title character."
https://klassik-begeistert.de/jacques-offenbach-les-contes-dhoffmann-
staatsoper-hamburg-29-mai-2023/#more-48892
„The biggest surprise of the evening for me was Jana Kurucová, who, as the Muse and Nicklausse, was able to hold her own alongside the other performers. Her radiant mezzo effortlessly filled the house, and in her duet with Hoffmann in the Antonia act, as well as at the end of the opera, she delivered touching notes that hint at a future Dalila."
https://klassik-begeistert.de/jacques-offenbach-les-contes-dhoffmann-
opera-fantastique-in-5-akten-staatsoper-hamburg...
"Jana Kurucová is refreshingly positive in both the role's conception and her performance as the Muse/Nicklausse. With her versatile and powerful mezzo-soprano, she serves as Hoffmann's harmonizing counterpart, delivering her performance with charm and great presence."
https://deropernfreund.de/staatsoper-hamburg/hamburg-
hoffmanns-erzaehlungen-jacques-offenbach...
DONIZETTI: MARIA STURDA (ELISABETTA)
SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATER BRATISLAVA, April 2023
„More than worthy of supporting her as Elizabeth was the renowned mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová, a regular guest artist at leading German opera houses and also known to Czech audiences. Her impactful and stylish interpretation of the internally struggling Elizabeth I, complete with typical bel canto finesse, was undoubtedly the most convincing performance of the evening. She possesses a clear, truly dramatic, and powerful voice that makes her perfectly suited for this role. Incidentally, she also portrayed this role a few years ago in the aforementioned Ostrava production. Her casting by the SND is an extremely smart move, especially if the theater aims to prioritize local Slovak talent. Particularly beautiful was her rendition of the trio with Cecil and Leicester at the beginning of the second act, "E pensi? E tardi? – Quella vita a me funesta – Vanne, indegno."
Photo copyright: Zdenko Hanout
http://operajournal.cz/2023/05/marie-stuartovna-v-snd-krasna-kostymni-prehlidka...
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VERDI: LA FORZA DEL DESTINO (PREZIOSILLA)
DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN; March-April 2023
“The sparkling mezzo-soprano and rhythmically precise Preziosilla of Jana Kurucová
https://konzertkritikopernkritikberlin.blog/2023/04/10/la-forza-del-destino-de-leon-sabirova-burdenko-kurucova/
JANÁČEK: PŘÍHODY LIŠKY BYSTROUŠKY (LIŠÁK)
CONCERTGEBOUW AMSTERDAM; April 2023
"Thanks to Jana Kurucová, the voice of the Fox was full of masculine elegance, with her passionate mezzo-soprano carrying through the orchestra. A great discovery!"
https://www.operamagazine.nl/recensies/63743/canellakis-geeft-vosje-fraai-nieuw-leven/
KONZERT: BERG: SIEBEN FRÜHE LIEDER
CZECH PHILHARMONIC PRAG; Februar 2023
„The soloist was mezzo-soprano Jana Kurucová, who gave the songs a distinctive, darker hue in the predominantly lower and middle registers. In contrast, her higher registers opened impressively into a clearer timbre, which I found particularly striking in her performance. She navigated even the more complex passages of the part with clarity and assurance, demonstrating quick changes in register and expression. Jana Kurucová interpreted each song in a unique way, paying attention to their different characters. She blended very well with the strings in the lyrical song "The Nightingale," delivered the evocative "Love Ode" superbly, and sang the concluding song "Summer Days" with real intensity and impact.“
MOZART: COSÌ FAN TUTTE (DORABELLA)
HAMBURG STATE OPERA; Februar - March 2023
"The two fiancés are given a fantastically nuanced profile through the performances of Tara Erraught (Fiordiligi) and Jana Kurucová (Dorabella). Jana Kurucová, as the more spirited, lively, and sensual of the two, captivates with her wonderfully warm mezzo-soprano voice and sensuality in both singing and portrayal. Tara Erraught contrasts this with a striking display of unwavering moral principles, which begin to crack behind the facade. With remarkable assurance, she handles the feared interval leaps, especially in the aria "Come scoglio," without overstraining, maintaining lightness, elegance in phrasing, and virtuosic expressiveness. The duets between the two beautifully blending female voices become highlights of the delightful evening."
https://www.oper-aktuell.info/kritiken/details/hamburg-staatsoper-cosi-fan-tutte-21022023.html
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