The Makropulos Affair: Modernism and the transgression of the laws of nature (original) (raw)

Leoš Janáček’s fascinating opera Věc Makropulos [The Makropulos Affair] is a reflection on the necessity of death after an unnaturally prolonged life. The plot reflects one of the basic themes of Modernism, where metallic and mechanistic heroines turned out to be a key tool in its strike on the sentimental excesses of the previous era. In this context the opera seems to be clearly related to Fritz Lang’s film Metropolis and Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot, created at the same time. Nevertheless, there is also a more personal aspect in the storyline, related to Janaček’s obsession with the young Kamila Stösslová. For The Makropulos Affair Janaček chose a musical language tied to the text –napĕvky mluvy– and the particular inflections and rhythm of the Czech language, resulting in speedy and intense, often nervous dialogues and the character’s clear, vivid portrayal.