Brandenburgers in Bohemia
Encyclopedia
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia is a three-act opera
, the first by Bedřich Smetana
. The Czech libretto
was written by Karel Sabina
, and is based on events from Czech history. The work was composed in the years 1862–1863. Smetana and Sabina wrote the opera at a time of great Czech patriotism, with the pending opening of a new theatre for production of Czech operas in Prague.
The opera received its first performance at the Provisional Theater (or the "Interim Theatre"), Prague
, on 5 January 1866, and the first performance was a success. The first UK performances were in April 1978 by Hammersmith Municipal Opera.
in the 13th century, during the occupation of Bohemia by forces of the Margrave of Brandenburg.
The serf Jíra is the leader of a rebel movement in Prague. He charges the Brandenburg captain, Tausendmark, with kidnapping the three daughters of the mayor, named Ludiše, Vlčenka and Děčana. Jíra is later arrested, put on trial, and condemned to death. However, Junoš, who is in love with Ludiše, manages to save Jíra. Eventually, Tausendmark and the other Brandenburgers are driven out of Prague, and the city is liberated.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, the first by Bedřich Smetana
Bedrich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...
. The Czech libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
was written by Karel Sabina
Karel Sabina
Karel Sabina , was a Czech writer and journalist.- Life :...
, and is based on events from Czech history. The work was composed in the years 1862–1863. Smetana and Sabina wrote the opera at a time of great Czech patriotism, with the pending opening of a new theatre for production of Czech operas in Prague.
The opera received its first performance at the Provisional Theater (or the "Interim Theatre"), Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, on 5 January 1866, and the first performance was a success. The first UK performances were in April 1978 by Hammersmith Municipal Opera.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 5 January 1866 (Conductor: Bedřich Smetana ) |
|---|---|---|
| Volfram Olbramovič, Lord Mayor of Prague | bass | Frantisek Hynek |
| Oldřich Rokycanský, a knight | baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or... |
Petr Doubravskÿ |
| Junoš, young resident of Prague | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Jindrich Polák |
| Jan Tausendmark, young resident of Prague | baritone | Josef Lev |
| Varneman, captain of the Brandenburgers | tenor | Jan Luvrik Lukes |
| Jíra, a runaway serf | tenor | Arnost Grand |
| Ludiše, Volfram's daughter | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Ferenczy |
| Vlčenka, Volfram's daughter | soprano | Josefina-Marie Schmidtová-Procházková |
| Děčana, Volfram's daughter | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
Marie Pisarovicová |
| Old villager | bass | Josef Palecek |
| Town crier | baritone | |
| Knights and soldiers, Olbramovič's men, villagers, Brandenburger soldiers, vagabonds and beggars, Judges | ||
Synopsis
The setting is PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in the 13th century, during the occupation of Bohemia by forces of the Margrave of Brandenburg.
The serf Jíra is the leader of a rebel movement in Prague. He charges the Brandenburg captain, Tausendmark, with kidnapping the three daughters of the mayor, named Ludiše, Vlčenka and Děčana. Jíra is later arrested, put on trial, and condemned to death. However, Junoš, who is in love with Ludiše, manages to save Jíra. Eventually, Tausendmark and the other Brandenburgers are driven out of Prague, and the city is liberated.
Discography
- 1963, Jan Hus Tichý (conductor), Chorus and Orchestra of the Prague National TheatreNational Theatre (Prague)The National Theatre in Prague is known as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and maintained by the most distinguished...
; Karel KalašKarel KalašKarel Kalaš was an Czech operatic bass and film and television actor. He first rose to prominence at the Slovak National Theatre where he was a member from 1934 through 1939. He left there to join the roster of principal singers at the National Theatre in Prague where he worked until his...
, Jiří Joran, Ivo ŽídekIvo ŽídekIvo Žídek was a celebrated Czech lyric tenor, known for his vivid portrayals of character roles in the operas of Smetana, Dvorák and Janáček.-Early life:...
, Zdeněk OtavaZdeněk OtavaZdeněk Otava was a Czech operatic baritone who had a length career at the Prague National Theatre that spanned more than four decades...
, Antonín Votava, Bohumil Vich, Milada ŠubrtováMilada ŠubrtováMilada Šubrtová was a Czech operatic soprano who had a lengthy career at the National Theatre in Prague from 1948 through 1991. She was part of an instrumental group of the post-World War II Czech opera singers that was responsible for popularizing Czech opera internationally...
, Miroslava Fidlerová, Věra SoukupováVěra SoukupováVěra Soukupová is a Czech mezzo-soprano.Born in Prague, Soukupová studied singing at the Prague Conservatory and privately with Luis Kadeřábek and A. Mustanová-Linková...
, Eduard HakenEduard HakenEduard Haken was a Czech operatic bass who had a lengthy career at the National Theatre in Prague during the 20th century. Although he mostly performed within his own nation, Haken did appear at a number of important international music festivals and opera houses in Europe while traveling with the...
, Jindřich Jindrák
Sources
- The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, by John Warrack and Ewan West (1992), 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5