Dive into the rich tapestry of Czech history and music with Bedřich Smetana's "The Brandenburgers in Bohemia," a monumental opera that marks the composer's inaugural foray into the operatic genre. This three-act masterpiece, with a libretto penned by Karel Sabina, is a cornerstone of Czech musical heritage, celebrating its 200th anniversary of the composer's birth in 2024.
Recorded by the esteemed Prague National Theatre Orchestra under the baton of Jan Hus Tichý, this album captures the essence of Smetana's genius, offering an immersive experience that spans over two hours and twenty-nine minutes. With forty meticulously crafted tracks, each scene and aria is brought to life with vivid detail, showcasing the depth and breadth of Smetana's compositional prowess.
"The Brandenburgers in Bohemia" is not just an opera; it is a historical narrative set to music, drawing from significant events in Czech history. The opera's intricate score and compelling storytelling make it a timeless piece that resonates with both classical enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Whether you are a longtime admirer of Smetana's work or a newcomer to his compositions, this album promises an enriching and captivating listening experience.
The album features a stellar cast of vocalists, each bringing their unique talents to the diverse roles within the opera. From the powerful arias of Volfram Olbramovič and Oldřich Rokycanský to the delicate harmonies of Ludiše, Vlčenka, and Děčana, every performance is a testament to the opera's enduring appeal.
Released on June 21, 2024, under the prestigious SUPRAPHON a.s. label, "The Brandenburgers in Bohemia" is a must-listen for anyone interested in classical music and Czech cultural heritage. This album is a celebration of Smetana's legacy, offering a comprehensive exploration of his early operatic work and its enduring impact on the world of classical music.
2024 SUPRAPHON a.s.2024 SUPRAPHON a.s.
Tracks
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 1: "But I Say You" (Volfram Olbramovič, Oldřich Rokycanský)Karel Kalas, Jan Hus Tichý, Jiří Joran, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 2: "Get on Horseback!" (Volfram Olbramovič, Oldřich Rokycanský, Junoš)Karel Kalas, Jan Hus Tichý, Jiří Joran, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Ivo Zidek, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 3: "What a Bustle?" (Ludiše)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 4: "And the Sweet, Sweet Love Making!… You Here, My Lord?" (Jan Tausendmark, Ludiše)Milada Šubrtová, Zdeněk Otava, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 5: "Heavens! Call the People!… O, God Arise to Our Help" (Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Věra Soukupová, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 6: "What You Will Find" (Jan Tausendmark)Zdeněk Otava, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 7: "You Have Refused to Give in Daytime" (Jíra)Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I: "Ballet"Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
he Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 8: "Now at Last Came Our Time!" (Jíra)Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 9: "Help Us, Dear People!" (Jíra, Ludiše)Milada Šubrtová, Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
he Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 10: "Eh, Your Flight Was in Vain!" (Jan Tausendmark, Varneman, Jíra, Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Zdeněk Otava, Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Antonín Votava, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Věra Soukupová, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I: "How Much Will You Pay?" (Jan Tausendmark, Jíra, Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Zdeněk Otava, Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Věra Soukupová, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I, Scene 11: "Retreat, Rabble!" (Volfram Olbramovič, Oldřich Rokycanský, Junoš, Jan Tausendmark, Jíra)Karel Kalas, Zdeněk Otava, Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Jiří Joran, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Ivo Zidek, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act I: "And So, You, Prague People" (Volfram Olbramovič, Oldřich Rokycanský, Junoš, Jan Tausendmark, Jíra)Karel Kalas, Zdeněk Otava, Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Jiří Joran, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Ivo Zidek, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 1: "Take Leave from Your Homeland Now" (Old villager)Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II: "O Lord into the Dust We’re Falling" (Old villager)Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Antonín Votava, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Karel Sabina
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II: "That Noise Beyond There!" (Old villager)Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 2: "Stand Still! Not One More Step Further!" (Old villager, Varneman, Town crier)Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Antonín Votava, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Karel Sabina
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 3: "An Order of the Prince" (Varneman, Town crier)Jan Hus Tichý, Antonín Votava, Jindřich Jindrák, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II: "Just Wait a While, Don't Exult as Yet!" (Town crier)Jan Hus Tichý, Jindřich Jindrák, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 4: "Prosecutor! Who Are the Witnesses of the Truth of Your Words?" (Volfram Olbramovič, Jíra, Jan Tausendmark)Karel Kalas, Zdeněk Otava, Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 5: "Refrain! You Fathers of the Town!" (Volfram Olbramovič, Junoš, Jan Tausendmark)Karel Kalas, Zdeněk Otava, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Ivo Zidek
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 6: "O, How Lovely Are the Scenes of Nature!" (Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Věra Soukupová
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II: "There Is, Oh, No Beauty for Us" (Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Věra Soukupová
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II: "What a Lovely Dream" (Old villager, Volfram Olbramovič, Junoš, Ludiše)Karel Kalas, Milada Šubrtová, Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Ivo Zidek
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 7: "Ah! Whose It This Voice!" (Junoš, Ludiše)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Ivo Zidek
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II: "O How Blissful, Lovely Is This Moment" (Junoš, Ludiše)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Ivo Zidek
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act II, Scene 8: "Now Then My Maiden" (Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana, Town crier)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Antonín Votava, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Věra Soukupová, Karel Sabina
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 1: "You Go Home Now!" (Jan Tausendmark, Varneman)Zdeněk Otava, Jan Hus Tichý, Antonín Votava, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III: "O Had I Never… Your Image, Maiden" (Jan Tausendmark)Zdeněk Otava, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III: "Ah the Die Is Cast" (Old villager, Volfram Olbramovič, Jan Tausendmark)Karel Kalas, Zdeněk Otava, Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 2: "Have You Succeeded, Dear Sir?" (Old villager, Jan Tausendmark)Zdeněk Otava, Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 3: "O Thanks to God, Freedom Is Beckoning!" (Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Věra Soukupová
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 4: "As long as We Are… Keep Silent, Please!" (Old villager, Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Věra Soukupová
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 5: "Who Is Shouting Here?" (Town crier)Jan Hus Tichý, Antonín Votava, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Karel Sabina
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 6: "The Night Is Quiet" (Junoš)Bohumir Vich, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Ivo Zidek, Milan Malý, Karel Sabina
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 7: "That Is Strange... What a Sorrow" (Old villager)Bohumir Vich, Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Antonín Votava, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Ivo Zidek, Milan Malý, Karel Sabina
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III: "In Vain Do I Look Round and Round" (Old villager, Junoš, Jíra, Town crier)Bohumir Vich, Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Jindřich Jindrák, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Ivo Zidek, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 8: "Here You Have Him the Murderer!" (Old villager, Junoš, Jan Tausendmark, Jíra, Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Milada Šubrtová, Zdeněk Otava, Bohumir Vich, Eduard Haken, Jan Hus Tichý, Miloslava Fidlerová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Ivo Zidek, Věra Soukupová, Milan Malý
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, Act III, Scene 9: "We Know Now… Long Live the Truth!" (Volfram Olbramovič, Jíra, Ludiše, Vlčenka, Děčana)Karel Kalas, Jan Hus Tichý, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Milan Malý, Karel Sabina
Bedřich Smetana, born on March 2, 1824, in Litomyšl, is celebrated as the founder of modern Czech national music. This influential composer, conductor, and music educator left an indelible mark on the romantic era and inspired generations of Czech composers. Smetana's prolific career includes a rich tapestry of operas, symphonic poems, and chamber music, with his masterpiece "Má vlast" (My Homeland) standing out as a quintessential work that captures the spirit of his homeland. His notable operas, such as "Prodaná nevěsta" (The Bartered Bride) and "Libuše," are staples of the classical repertoire. Despite facing personal tragedies, including progressive deafness, Smetana's unwavering dedication to his art and his role as a cultural organizer and critic solidified his legacy as a pillar of Czech music. His contributions continue to resonate, making him one of the most renowned Czech composers worldwide.
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Bedřich Smetana
