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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky
• Leoš Janáček
• From the House of the Dead
• opera
• libretto
• transliteration