Karel Strakatý
Encyclopedia
Karel Strakatý was a Czech
opera
tic bass
who had a lengthy career at the Estates Theatre
in Prague
from 1827 until his retirement in 1858. While there he portrayed more than 253 roles in over 3,230 performances. He is best remembered today's as the first interpreter of the Czech
national anthem
, "Kde domov můj?" (Where is my home?) which he performed in its premiere in 1834.
In addition to his work in the theatre, Strakatý was also active as a concert singer. He notably sang the role of Friar Laurence in Hector Berlioz
's symphony Roméo et Juliette when it was performed in Prague for the first time on April 17, 1846. The concert was extremely successful and consolidated definitively the prestige of this French composer in Bohemia.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
opera
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...
tic bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
who had a lengthy career at the Estates Theatre
Estates Theatre
The Estates Theatre or Stavovské divadlo is a historic theatre in Prague, Czech Republic. The Estates Theatre was annexed to the National Theatre in 1948 and currently draws on three artistic ensembles, opera, ballet, and drama, which perform at the Estates Theatre, the National Theatre , and the...
in 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...
from 1827 until his retirement in 1858. While there he portrayed more than 253 roles in over 3,230 performances. He is best remembered today's as the first interpreter of the Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
, "Kde domov můj?" (Where is my home?) which he performed in its premiere in 1834.
In addition to his work in the theatre, Strakatý was also active as a concert singer. He notably sang the role of Friar Laurence in Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
's symphony Roméo et Juliette when it was performed in Prague for the first time on April 17, 1846. The concert was extremely successful and consolidated definitively the prestige of this French composer in Bohemia.