Libuše () is a "festival opera" in three acts, with music by Bedřich Smetana. The libretto was originally written in German by Josef Wenzig, and was then translated into Czech by Ervín Špindler. In Czech historical myth, Libuše, the title character, prophesied the founding of Prague. The opera was composed in 1871–72 for the coronation of Franz Josef as King of Bohemia. This did not happen and Smetana saved Libuše for the opening of the National Theatre in Prague, which took place nine years later on 11 June 1881. After the destruction of the National Theatre in a fire, the same opera opened the reconstructed theatre in 1883. The first US performance was reported to have occurred March 1986, in a concert version at Carnegie Hall with Eve Queler and the Opera Orchestra of New York.[1] In the UK, it was first staged by University College Opera in 2019.[2]
| Libuše | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Bedřich Smetana | |
 Smetana in 1854, painting by Geskel Saloman | |
| Librettist | Josef Wenzig |
| Language | Czech |
| Premiere | 11 June 1881 National Theatre, Prague |
Commentators have noted the pageant-like nature of the opera and the influence of Richard Wagner in the music.[3]
Roles
edit.jpg)
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 11 June 1881 (Conductor: Adolf Čech) |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Libuše | soprano | Marie Sittová |
| Chrudoš | bass | Karel Čech |
| Sťáhlav, younger brother of Chrudoš | tenor | Antonín Vávra |
| Radmilla, sister to Chrudoš and Sťáhlav | contralto | Betty Fibichová |
| Krasava | soprano | Irma Reichová |
| Lutobor, father to Krasava | bass | František Hynek |
| Přemysl, a farmer from Stadice | baritone | Josef Lev |
| Radovan | baritone | Leopold Stropnický |
Synopsis
editAct 1
editAt the majestic castle of Vyšehrad, the Czech princess Libuše is set to adjudicate a dispute between two brothers, Chrudoš and Šťáhlav, over their father's legacy. Czech law dictates either co-management or equal division of the land. German law, which Chrudoš, the elder, favours, would demand primogeniture, where the elder sibling would inherit the entire property. Libuše prays to the gods for her people's unity. At the same time, Krasava confides to Radmila, the brothers' sister, with her concerns about the dispute's outcome. Libuše's judgment stipulates an equal division of the estate between the two brothers. Hot-blooded Chrudoš refuses to accept the verdict, claiming that it's not for a woman to judge in a men's dispute. Feeling humiliated, the princess decides to give the Czechs a male prince, and to become his consort. She sends out a deputation to Přemysl of Stadice, with whom she has long been in love.
Act 2
editAt the burial mound of the two brothers' father, Krasava confesses to her father, Lutobor, that she is the true reason behind the dispute, as she has kindled Chrudoš's jealousy by feigning her love of Šťáhlav. Obeying Lutobor's order, she becomes reconciled with Chrudoš, and presently also has the two brothers make peace between themselves. Meanwhile in Stadice, as the air fills with farmhands' song Přemysl is immersed in loving memories of Libuše. Libuše's deputation arrives, headed by Radovan, to guide Přemysl to Vyšehrad as the princess's future husband and prince of the Czechs.
Act 3
editAt Vyšehrad, Libuše, welcoming peace being restored between the two brothers, gives Krasava to Chrudoš as his wife. Now at Libuše's side, Přemysl assumes his princely powers and calls on Chrudoš to apologize to the princess for the offence. The young hotspur, who has so far stubbornly declined, is now ready to yield. Přemysl gives him a brotherly embrace. All present rejoice at the reconciliation. Under the impact of the auspicious moment, Libuše utters a prophecy envisioning a bright future for the Czech nation (including union with Moravia under Břetislav l; the salvaging of Moravia from Tartar invasion through the endeavour of Jaroslav ze Šternberka; the Kingdom of Bohemia's prosperity during the rules of Přemysl Otakar II and Charles IV; the Hussite era; and the rule of the peacemaker King Jiří z Poděbrad). In her prophecy, Libuše does not fail to mention also the dark periods looming ahead for the Czech nation, but she stays firmly convinced of its perseverance with which it will gloriously prevail even over the “horrors of hell”.
Orchestration
editPiccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, four trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbals, bass drum, harp, strings. Onstage trumpets.[4]
Recordings
edit- 1949, Alois Klíma (conductor), Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Prague Radio; Marie Podvalová, Theodor Šrubař, Karel Kalaš, Beno Blachut, Jaroslav Veverka, Bořek Rujan, Ludmila Červinková, Marta Krásová, Miluše Dvořáková, Miloslava Fidlerová, Věra Krilová, Jaroslav Gleich
- 1966, Jaroslav Krombholc (conductor), Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Naděžda Kniplová, Vacláv Bednár, Věra Soukupová
- 1983, Zdeněk Košler (conductor), Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Gabriela Beňačková-Čápová, Václav Zítek, Antonín Švorc, Leo Marian Vodička, Eva Děpoltová
- 1995, Oliver Dohnányi (conductor), Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Eva Urbanová, Vratislav Kříž, Luděk Vele, Miloslav Podskalský, Miroslava Volková, Marie Veselá, Jan Markvart, Miroslav Švejda, Pavel Červinka, Jana Jonášová, Jitka Soběhartová, Helena Kaupová [5]
References
editNotes
- ^ Donal Henahan (14 March 1986). "Beňačková in Smetana's Libuše". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
- ^ Anna Picard (19 March 2019). "Review: Libuse at the Bloomsbury Theatre, WC1". The Times. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
- ^ Helm, Everett, "Reports from Abroad: Prague" (1959). The Musical Times, 100 (1392): p. 97.
- ^ Bennett, John Reginald (1974). Smetana on 3000 Records. Blandford: Oakwood Press. p. 136. ISBN 0853611580. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ Graeme, Roland (1997). "Libuše. Bedřich Smetana". The Opera Quarterly. 13 (3): 186–189. doi:10.1093/oq/13.3.186.
Sources
- Warrack, John and West, Ewan, The Oxford Dictionary of Opera New York: OUP: 1992 ISBN 0-19-869164-5
External links
edit
Media related to Libuše (opera) at Wikimedia Commons
