Proposal for International Programming

Eugen Suchoň: Krútňava
(also staged internationally as Katrena / The Whirlpool)

A major Central European opera for contemporary international audiences

Suchon´s most important composition, First Slovak National Opera "Krutnava" ("The Whirlpool"), composed between 1941 and 1949 has been staged with considerable success throughout all opera venues in Slovakia and Czech Republic, as well as at many opera houses worldwide (such as Vienna, Lansing, Budapest, Munich, Moscow, Berlin, Leipzig, Antwerp etc...)

We respectfully propose the inclusion of Eugen Suchoň’s Krútňava in your future season planning. Regarded as a cornerstone of Slovak operatic culture and a significant work of 20th-century European opera, Krútňava offers exceptional dramatic strength, a distinctive musical language, and broad contemporary relevance. While firmly established in Central Europe, it remains comparatively rare on international stages—making it an ideal title for meaningful repertoire expansion.

Artistic and Dramatic Value

A universally legible moral drama
Krútňava presents a psychologically intense narrative that transcends national context: guilt and responsibility, truth and concealment, collective judgment, and the difficult process of forgiveness. The opera’s dramatic structure is clear, continuous, and strongly theatrical, enabling compelling audience engagement in any cultural setting.

A singular musical voice of high artistic quality
Suchoň’s score integrates folk-derived gestures into a modern operatic language without relying on quotation or pastiche. The work is shaped by tightly connected motifs, sophisticated harmonic thinking, and vivid orchestral color. The orchestra functions not only as accompaniment but as a dramatic force—supporting, commenting upon, and intensifying the moral atmosphere of the stage action.

Relevance to Contemporary Programming
A repertoire event with strong positioning potential
Presenting Krútňava allows an institution to offer a work of genuine artistic stature beyond the standard canon. It meets current programming priorities:

Rediscovery and diversification of repertoire,
Strong narrative with modern psychological resonance
Distinctive musical identity that can be communicated clearly to audiences.

Marketing and audience development
The title can be framed successfully as an international discovery: a major European opera aligned with the audience appeal of high-stakes drama. The opera’s use of alternate foreign titles—Katrena and The Whirlpool—also provides flexible branding options.

Performance Feasibility
Performs effectively in original Slovak with surtitles (recommended for authenticity and musical integrity), with the option of translation where a local-language strategy is preferred.

Adaptable to multiple formats depending on institutional goals:
full staging,
semi-staged
concert performance (particularly effective given the orchestral and dramatic design).

Materials and Support
We can assist with the coordination of:
score/parts access and licensing pathways (edition and rights-holder information as applicable),
a curated set of reference recordings and performance materials,
archival production references (verified foreign stagings with links to theatre archives and collections), and
prepared communication materials (synopsis, program note drafts, and press-kit texts in English and Slovak).