Janáček: Excursions of Mr Brouček

The ‘hero’ of Janáček’s 1920 satire is the sausage- and beer-guzzling Brouček, a complacent, commitment-averse landlord. Over two acts he travels to both the moon and the fifteenth century. Thinking the grass will be greener both times, Brouček finds himself out of step with the communities he encounters, almost fatally so at one point. He ends up learning nothing, yet manages to claim he saved his homeland from disaster. Janáček’s colourful score and vividly-drawn characters are perfect for this uproarious, off-beat story.