In principal roles alongside Anne Sophie Duprels are American tenor Tom Randle as Laca and New Zealand soprano Margaret Medlyn as the Kostelnička.

"Jenůfa is a tightly written, very theatrical opera, whose success relies to a great extent on singers who not only can sing well, but also can act well. Anne Sophie and Tom recently performed these roles at Opera Holland Park and won universal acclaim for their portrayals. And New Zealand audiences are well aware of Margaret Medlyn's singing and acting abilities. It's almost as if the role of the Kostelnička was written especially with Margaret in mind," he says.

The title role of Jenůfa is a big, challenging part, and Anne Sophie Duprels has recently shown that she is more than capable of doing it justice. Rave reviews followed her portrayal of Jenůfa in the 2007 season at Opera Holland Park in London.

"Jenůfa is a very real woman," Ms Duprels says. "It's one of the things I love about this opera - it's about real people, about their traumas, the choices they make, the difficulties of love. It's also about being able to forgive: to transform what could kill you into something else and to try to go on living. It would be easier for Jenůfa to die after her child is killed, but she goes on, and that makes her an amazingly strong character. She's a victim, but she's also the one who forgives. It's a very emotional role and, being a mother myself, it makes the journey even more emotional."

"Acting is as important to me as singing," she adds, "and I feel at home with passion and drama. When you love acting, every challenge is a joy."

Composed in 1904 by Czech composer LeoÅ¡ Janáček, Jenůfa is a gripping tale, a powerful statement of loss and redemption; raw and harrowing, yet compassionate and uplifting. Packing a phenomenal emotional punch, Jenůfa is an opera with great depth which will deliver an unforgettable theatrical and musical experience.

The NBR New Zealand Opera's Genesis Energy Spring Season of Jenůfa

Opera in Three Acts by LeoÅ¡ Janáček; Libretto by the Composer from a story by Gabriella Preissová
Glyndebourne Festival production

Conductor Wyn Davies
Director Nikolaus Lehnhoff
Restage Director Ashley Dean
Designer Tobias Hoheisel
Lighting Designer Paul Hastie

Jenůfa Anne Sophie Duprels
Kostelnička Margaret Medlyn
Laca Tom Randle
Å teva Jamie Allen
Grandmother Buryjovká Helen Medlyn
Foreman John Antoniou
Karolka Kate Lineham+
Mayor Richard Green
Mayor's Wife Carmel Carroll
Barena Julia Booth*
Jano Emma Roxburgh+
Maid Susie Ewart+

With the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus
Accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the Vector Wellington Orchestra

*PWC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist; +The NBR New Zealand Opera Resident Artist

Sung in Czech with English surtitles, The NBR New Zealand Opera's Genesis Energy Spring Season of Jenůfa opens in Auckland on Saturday 20 September and in Wellington on Saturday 11 October.