Yveta Synek Graff
English Captions

Born in Prague, Synek Graff has served as artistic consultant and Czech language coach for a number of major opera companies in the United States, including San Francisco, New York City, and Minnesota Operas. In 1980 she worked as language coach and prepared a transliteration at San Francisco Opera for the first American production of Janáãek's JenÛfa to be performed in the original Czech. Her 1985 translation of JenÛfa (in collaboration with Robert T. Jones) for Seattle Opera was used by the Metropolitan Opera in 1986. Other translations include: Janáãek's Excursions of Mr. Broucek, Cunning Little Vixen, and From the House of the Dead. Internationally, her work has been featured at Opera Australia; Royal Opera, Covent Garden; and the Spoleto Festival in Italy. The Czech Republic's Ministry of Culture has awarded Synek Graff the Janáãek and Smetana medals for her efforts to introduce Czech opera to a worldwide audience.

Biography as of October 2001