An opera you’ve never seen called Judith

Croatian National Theatre’s new production of Judith is timed to echo the 500th anniversary of the death in 1524 of Marko Marulić, the father of Croatian literature. Published in 1521, Marulić’s Judita was the first literary epic in Croatian language. Inspired by Marulić, known as the ‘Virgil of Split’, Frano Parać, Croatian composer and academician, composed and wrote his own libretto for this two act opera, which premiered in 2000. It was an immediate popular success and is the most frequently revived of all contemporary Croatian operas. After the world opening night, critic Miljenko Grgić enthused: ‘waves of exaltation at the end of the performance proclaim the genius of Marulić (to whom we owe the literary model) and of Parać, the creator of the opera, whose future is secured by such a magical performance.’ Zagreb’s new production of Judith is directed by Snježana Banović and conducted by Ivan Josip Skender, brought to Slippedisc readers courtesy of OperaVision.

The Plot:  from the biblical Book of Judith, here is a beautiful widow on a mission to save the Jewish people and her city, Bethulia, under siege by Assyrian invaders. Using her powers of seduction, Judith infiltrates the Assyrian camp and asks to see General Holofernes, promising to tell him how to conquer Israel without losing any of his men. Blinded by Judith’s beauty and wisdom, Holofernes prepares a feast for her. When left alone with the inebriated Holofernes, Judith murders him with his own sword and takes his head as a trophy.

Sung in Croatian with subtitles in Croatian and English

Streamed on Friday 17 January 2025 at 1900 CET   / 1800 London   / 1300 New York

trophy.