Dive into the rich tapestry of Czech opera with Bedřich Smetana's "The Two Widows, JB 1:108," a captivating exploration of love, deception, and societal norms. This two-act opera buffa, composed in 1877, is presented in its entirety, offering an immersive experience into Smetana's musical genius and his unique storytelling prowess.
The album features a stellar performance by the Prague National Theatre Orchestra, conducted by František Jílek, with a cast of exceptional vocalists bringing Smetana's characters to life. The opera's libretto, based on a play by František Adolf Šubrt, is filled with wit, charm, and a touch of farce, providing a delightful contrast to the more serious operas of the time.
"The Two Widows, JB 1:108" is a feast for the ears, with Smetana's signature melodies and harmonies weaving a musical narrative that is as engaging as it is entertaining. The album includes all 38 tracks from the opera, spanning over two hours of enchanting music, from the lively overtures to the poignant arias and duets.
This release is a testament to Smetana's enduring legacy and his significant contribution to the world of classical music. Whether you're a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album is sure to captivate and inspire. The detailed tracklist allows for easy navigation through the opera's two acts, making it an excellent choice for both casual listening and in-depth study. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the magic of "The Two Widows, JB 1:108" and immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Smetana's music.
2024 SUPRAPHON a.s.2024 SUPRAPHON a.s.
Tracks
Two Widows, JB 1:108: "Overture"Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 1: "A Fine Morning" (Karolina)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, František Jílek, Milan Malý
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 2: "Oh, Good Morning, Dear Causin!" (Karolina, Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I: "I Rule Independently" (Karolina)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I: "Well Then, What Would You Have Me Do?" (Karolina, Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 3: "Good Morning, Gracious Lady!" (Karolina, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 3: "Our Good and Gracious Lady Feels Sympathy for Poachers" (Karolina, Anežka, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 3: "His Only Redeeming Grace Is That He Misses Everything!" (Karolina, Anežka, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 4: "If He Brings Here Now, What Then?" (Karolina, Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 5: "Will I Wander Here Long" (Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 6: "Everything Is in Order, Gracious Lady" (Karolina, Anežka, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 7: "The Prisoner Is at the Door!" (Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal, Karolina, Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 7: "My ladies, I beg your forgiveness!" (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 7: "What Do You Want?" (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I, Scene 7: "You Little Beast" (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act I: "Look, Mumlal, We´ve Got You Here… Divine Love, a True Gift" (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal, Toník, Lidunka)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek, Milan Malý, Zdeněk Švehla, Daniela Šounová-Brouková
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II: "Overture II"Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 1: "When May Comes Calling" (Ladislav Podhájský)Bedřich Smetana, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 1: "Fine Idea Keeping That Man Here" (Karolina, Anežka, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 2: "There Is No More Doubt… Decided, Finished" (Karolina, Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 3: "A Poem!" (Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 3: "Do You Want to Keep Fleeing from Me" (Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský)Bedřich Smetana, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 3: "Ah, How Cruelly My Feigned Resistance" (Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský)Bedřich Smetana, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II: "What Do You Want to Tell Me?" (Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský)Bedřich Smetana, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 3: "But That Was Not in the Letter, Sir" (Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský)Bedřich Smetana, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 4: "Halt, Sir!" (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 5: "They Are Leaving Together to Have Fun" (Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 5: "Oh, What a Beautiful Day" (Anežka)Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 6: "Fine! Wonderful!" (Anežka, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 6: "When Anything at All Bothers Me" (Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 6: "My Beloved, Worthy Friend" (Anežka, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 7: "What´s This, Girl, What’s This?" (Mumlal, Toník, Lidunka)Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek, Zdeněk Švehla, Daniela Šounová-Brouková
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 8: "Mumlal, Go and Grumble Like a Bear" (Karolina, Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 9: "Oh! Ah, What a Surprise" (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II, Scene 9: "Gracious Lady!" (Karolina, Ladislav Podhájský, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Jiri Zahradnicek, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Marcela Machotkova, František Jílek
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II: "I Hereby Bring the Glorious News" (Karolina, Mumlal)Bedřich Smetana, Naďa Šormová, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Jaroslav Horáček, František Jílek, Milan Malý
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II: "The Lord God Must Love Us" (Karolina)Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, František Jílek, Milan Malý
Two Widows, JB 1:108, Act II: "Polka (dance) - The Lord God Must Love Us"Bedřich Smetana, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, František Jílek, Milan Malý
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.
Vinylscout
Bedřich Smetana
