Jenufa

I cannot shower enough superlatives upon Karita Matilla, currently giving the performance of a lifetime in Leos Janacek's Jenufa at the Met. Matilla is of the school of emotional interpreters, a very rare breed in modern opera. Watching her get down and dirty on stage is a completely fulfilling experience, among the best I've ever had at an opera. It also helps that her co-star is the great Anja Silja, the queen of the emotional interpretation. You could hear a pin drop during their scenes together. For once, the Met has paired their divas with two incredibly worthy leading men: the forceful and fascinating Jorma Silvasti sang Laca with fiery passion, and Jay Hunter Morris, in his company debut, brought an intriguing humanity to the cold-hearted Steva. The production closes this Saturday; do yourself a favor and go. You won't soon find two titans like this sharing the stage again any time soon.