On 28 September, the Royal Opera House opened their long-awaited new production of Janaček's Jenůfa, directed by Claus Guth and conducted by Henrik Nánási, after a delay of almost 18 months following the production's forced postponement only days before its planned opening night in March 2020. This production - the first performance of Jenůfa at the Royal Opera House in 20 years - features David Stout as Stárek, the Mill Foreman, a role for which he has received excellent reviews:
"Among the smaller parts, Jacquelyn Stucker’s bright Karolka (Steva’s fiancée), David Stout’s sturdy Foreman at the Mill and Angela Simkin’s Herdswoman stand out..."
Hugh Canning, The Times
"There’s exceptional casting among the smaller role: Elena Zilio, a Puccini stalwart in the Royal Opera Trittico, as Grandmother Buryjovka; David Stout as an energetic Mill Foreman..."
David Nice, The Arts Desk
"David Stout sings strongly as the Foreman"
Richard Fairman, Financial Times ****
"David Stout was an imposing foreman"
David Karlin, Bachtrack *****
"David Stout’s sure-voiced Foreman dynamically propels the action in Act 1, giving Laca the knife that will rob Jenůfa of the freshness that sustains Števa’s affection, praising her beauty and thus emphasising the cause of Laca’s frustration and fixation."
Claire Seymour, Opera Today
"David Stout gave an excellent account of the foreman at the mill"
Mark Ronan, The Article
Jenůfa runs until 12 October - read more about the production here. The performance on 9 October will be streamed on OperaVision.
