Fate (opera) facts for kids

Fate (which is Osud in Czech) is an opera by the Czech composer Leoš Janáček. An opera is like a play where people sing all the words instead of speaking them. Janáček wrote this opera between 1903 and 1905. He started composing it not long after his daughter, Olga, passed away. He had also just finished another opera called Jenůfa, which had a sad ending for a young girl.

About the Opera's Creation

The person who wrote the libretto (which means the words for the opera) was a young lady. She was a close friend of Janáček’s daughter. She wrote under the name Tálská. Janáček felt that the story of Fate had ideas from his own life. He also wanted to write about different kinds of people. In his opera Jenůfa, he wrote about simple country folk. For Fate, he chose to write about people from the upper classes, meaning rich and important people in society.

Understanding the Opera's Story

The story of the opera is quite unusual and sometimes hard to believe. People have often said it doesn't always make sense. The story jumps around a lot, with many short scenes. The words in the libretto were written in a very old-fashioned way on purpose. Many Czech people who have worked with this opera found this formal language made it hard for audiences to understand. Some have felt that when the opera is sung in other languages, it sounds more natural.

Despite these criticisms about the story, the music in Fate is considered some of the best music Janáček ever wrote.

The Story of Fate

The story of the opera takes place around the beginning of the 20th century. This was the same time Janáček was writing the music.

Act I: A Chance Meeting

In the first act, gentlemen, students, and young girls are walking around in a health resort. This is a place where people go to relax and get healthy. The men are interested in a girl named Míla. Míla then sees a young man named Živný in the crowd. Živný is a composer, someone who writes music.

Míla and Živný used to be in love and had a child together. She tells Živný that her mother made them break up. Her mother wanted Míla to marry someone rich. Míla's mother also made her leave Prague to have their child in the countryside. Now, Míla and Živný want to forget their sad past. They hope to live happily together with their little son, Doubek.

Act II: Life Together

The second act takes place several years later. Míla and Živný have been living happily together. Míla’s mother lives with them too, but she has become very unwell and confused.

Míla and Živný are reading the story of an opera. It seems to tell their own life story. Suddenly, Míla's mother screams loudly. Živný gets upset and tears up the music of the opera. Then, Míla's mother grabs her daughter. She throws herself and Míla down a very steep staircase.

Act III: The Unfinished Opera

The third act happens eleven years later. It takes place in a music conservatory, which is a special school for music. Živný’s students are singing music from an opera that Živný has composed. One of these students is Živný and Míla's son, Doubek.

Živný himself is like the main character of his own opera. The last part of his opera has not been written yet. The students act out a scene from Doubek’s childhood and make fun of it. Živný then talks about his opera. A big storm starts, and Živný is tragically killed by lightning. Because of this, his opera will never be finished.