Thu, 25. 10. 2018, 7.00 p.m.
LIBUŠE
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. |
Concert presented in collaboration with UTB University, Zlín.
Bedřich Smetana: Libuše, concert version of the opera
Libuše: Eva Urbanová
Přemysl ze Stadic: Svatopluk Sem
Chrudoš od Otavy: Miloš Horák / František Zahradníček
Šťáhlav na Radbuze: Aleš Briscein / Jaroslav Březina
Lutobor: Peter Mikuláš / Jiří Sulženko
Krasava: Maria Kobielska / Petra Šimková Alvarez
Radmila: Kateřina Jalovcová / Stanislava Jirků
First Reaper: Magdalena Malá / Jana Sibera
Second Reaper: Olessia Baranová / Jana Kastnerová
Third Reaper: Irina Rurac / Yvona Škvárová
Fourth Reaper: Václav Lemberk
JANÁČEK OPERA COMPANY, BRNO, Pavel Vaněk, Choral Director
BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Jaroslav Kyzlink, conductor
The final concert of the Harmonia Moraviae festival is the culmination of the celebrations marking the centenary of the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic, and the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic is recognising this by presenting a suitably emblematic and decorous work for such a significant occasion - Libuše, one of the hallmarks of Czech music. The opera, which Smetana completed in 1872, portrays the mythical princess in a legend first recorded in the Kosmas Chronicle in the early 12th century. Originally conceived as a ceremonial opera, it was to have been performed on the coronation of the emperor Franz Josef, but this never happened and it was first performed at the opening ceremony of the National Theatre on 11th June 1881. The three-act opera, which tells the story of Libuše's ruling in a land dispute, her marriage and her prophetic vision, was originally based on the German libretto by Josef Wenzig, subsequently translated into Czech by Ervín Špindler. This masterful opus reflecting the ideals of homeland and the nation is not a common repertoire opera, but in accordance with the composer's wishes it is performed only on festive occasions. The role of Libuše is sung by the renowned diva the soprano Eva Urbanová, with the other roles filled by leading Czech opera singers. The performance is conducted by the current Musical Director of the National Theatre Opera Jaroslav Kyzlink.