Pavla Vykopalová (born 23 March 1972 in

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...

) is a Czech soprano.

Life

Vykopalová studied singing at the

Prague Conservatory The Prague Conservatory or Prague Conservatoire ( cs, Pražská konzervatoř) is a music school in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1808. Currently, Prague Conservatory offers four or six year study courses, which can be compared to the level ...

and graduated in 1993; she then became a member of the Prague Philharmonic Choir. She began her soloist career as a mezzo-soprano receiving singing lessons from Lenka Šmídová und since 1997 from Jiří Kotouč. In 2006, she made the transition from mezzo to soprano and has been continuing her voice training with Marie Urbanová. Vykopalová's repertoire includes roles from Baroque period until the 20th century; beside opera roles she devotes herself to

oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is ...

s, cantatas and songs, including contemporary works. During her studies at the conservatory, Vykopalová performed with the "Opera Mozart" company in Prague; in 1988 she was engaged at the opera of the Plzeň (Pilsen) Theatre. Since January 2009, she is member of the opera ensemble at the

National Theatre Brno The National Theatre Brno ( cs, Národní divadlo Brno) is an opera, ballet and drama company in the Czech Republic, that nation's second busiest. It was established in 1884 on the model of the National Theatre company in Prague. Today it runs th ...

; she appeared at the same time already since 1999 as a permanent guest artist at the National Theatre in Prague and the

Prague State Opera The State Opera (Czech: Státní opera) is an opera house in Prague, Czech Republic. It is part of the National Theatre of the Czech Republic, founded by Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic in 1992. The theatre itself originally opened in ...

. In 2003, she sang the role of Karolka in Janáček's ''

Jenůfa ''Její pastorkyňa'' (''Her Stepdaughter''; commonly known as ''Jenůfa'' ) is an opera in three acts by Leoš Janáček to a Czech libretto by the composer, based on the play ''Její pastorkyňa'' by Gabriela Preissová. It was first performed ...

'' in a production at the

Théâtre du Châtelet The Théâtre du Châtelet () is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. One of two theatres (the other being the Théâtre de la Ville) built on the site of a ''châtelet'', a ...

in Paris. In 2011/12, she performed the same role in a co-production of three French opera houses – Rennes, Limoges and Reims. For the role of Mařenka in Smetana's ''

The Bartered Bride ''The Bartered Bride'' ( cz, Prodaná nevěsta, links=no, ''The Sold Bride'') is a comic opera in three acts by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, to a libretto by Karel Sabina. The work is generally regarded as a major contribution towards the ...

'', directed by

Ondřej Havelka Ondřej Havelka (born October 10, 1954) is a Czech jazz and swing singer, actor, and director. Career Havelka has been the lead vocalist for the Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra (1976-1995) and for Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers (19 ...

at the National Theatre in Brno, Vykopalová received a nomination for the Czech Thalia Price in 2006. In 2013, she received another nomination for the Thalia Price 2012 for the role of Míla in Janáček's ''

Destiny Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

'' at the National Theatre in Brno.

Soprano roles

National Theatre Prague *Jenůfa (Janáček: ''

)'' *Antonia (Offenbach: ''

The Tales of Hoffmann ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died i ...

'') *Paskalina ( Martinů: ''The Miracles of Mary'') *Mařenka (Smetana: ''

'') *Fiordiligi (Mozart: '' Così fan tutte'') *Countess (Mozart: ''

Le nozze di Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' ( it, Le nozze di Figaro, links=no, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premie ...

'') *Vitellia (Mozart: ''

La clemenza di Tito ' (''The Clemency of Titus''), K. 621, is an ''opera seria'' in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Pietro Metastasio. It was started after most of ' (''The Magic Flute''), the last o ...

'') *Donna Elvira, Zerlina (both Mozart: '' Don Giovanni'') *Pamina (Mozart: ''

The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a '' Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was written that in ...

'') State Opera Prague *Desdemona (Verdi: '' Otello'') *Rusalka (Dvořák: '' Rusalka'') *Mimì (Puccini: ''

La bohème ''La bohème'' (; ) is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions '' quadri'', '' tableaux'' or "images", rather than ''atti'' (acts). composed by Giacomo Puccini between 1893 and 1895 to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giusep ...

'') *Pamina (Mozart: ''The Magic Flute'') *Rosina (Rossini: ''

Il barbiere di Siviglia ''The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution'' ( it, Il barbiere di Siviglia, ossia L'inutile precauzione ) is an ''opera buffa'' in two acts composed by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based ...

'') National Theatre Brno *Míla (Janáček: ''

'') *Donna Elvira (Mozart: '' Don Giovanni'') *Micaëla (Bizet: '' Carmen'') *Countess (Mozart: ''Le nozze di Figaro'') *Liu (Puccini: ''

Turandot ''Turandot'' (; see below) is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, posthumously completed by Franco Alfano in 1926, and set to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. ''Turandot'' best-known aria is " Nessun dorma", ...

'') *Jenůfa (Janáček: ''Jenůfa'') *Countess (Mozart: ''Le nozze di Figaro'') *Rosalinda (J. Strauss II: ''

Die Fledermaus ' (, ''The Flittermouse'' or ''The Bat'', sometimes called ''The Revenge of the Bat'') is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée, which premiered in 1874. Background The original li ...

'') *Lauretta (Puccini: ''

Gianni Schicchi () is a comic opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, composed in 1917–18. The libretto is based on an incident mentioned in Dante's ''Divine Comedy''. The work is the third and final part of Pucci ...

'') *Nedda (Leoncavallo: '' Pagliacci'') *Mařenka (Smetana: ''The Bartered Bride'') *Julietta (Martinů: ''

Julietta ''Juliette'' is an opera by Bohuslav Martinů, who also wrote the libretto, in French, based on the play ''Juliette, ou La clé des songes'' (''Juliette, or The Key of Dreams)'' by the French author Georges Neveux. A libretto in Czech was later pre ...

'') *Rosina (Rossini: ''Il barbiere di Siviglia'') Other opera productions *Clarice ( G. Scarlatti: '' Dove è amore è gelosia'' – concert performance; 2009) *Jenůfa (Janáček: ''Jenůfa'') – Co-production of the , and (2011/12) Oratorio and cantata repertoire * A. Scarlatti: ''Stabat Mater'' * Zelenka: ''Missa Dei Filii'' * F. X. Brixi: ''Missa pastoralis'' *

Wanhal Johann Baptist Wanhal (12 May 1739 – 20 August 1813) was a Czech classical music composer. He was born in Nechanice, Bohemia, and died in Vienna. His music was well respected by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. He was an instrumental ...

: ''Stabat Mater'' * Mozart: Great Mass in C minor * Mozart: '' Exsultate, jubilate'', K. 165 * Mozart: Requiem * Dvořák: '' Stabat Mater'' * Dvořák: ''The Wedding Shirts'' (''Svatební košile'', ''The Spectre's Bride'') * Dvořák: '' Saint Ludmila'' * Dvořák: Mass in D major * Dvořák: Requiem * Dvořák: Te Deum * Fauré: Requiem * Bernstein: Symphony No. 3 – Kaddish

Song cycle A song cycle (german: Liederkreis or Liederzyklus) is a group, or cycle (music), cycle, of individually complete Art song, songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a unit.Susan Youens, ''Grove online'' The songs are either for solo voice ...

s * Dvořák: ''Love Songs'', Op. 83 * Wiedermann: Spiritual Chants * Martinů: ''The New Špalíček'', H 288 * Ravel: '' Shéhérazade'' * Shostakovich: '' From Jewish Folk Poetry'', Op. 79 * Pololáník: ''The Easter Journey''

Former mezzo-soprano roles

*Dido (Purcell: ''

Dido and Aeneas ''Dido and Aeneas'' (Z. 626) is an opera in a prologue and three acts, written by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. The dates of the composition and first performance of the opera are uncertain. It was com ...

'' – Pilsen Theatre) *Ruggiero (Händel: ''

Alcina ''Alcina'' (Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis, HWV 34) is a 1735 opera seria by George Frideric Handel. Handel used the libretto of ''L'isola di Alcina'', an opera that was set in 1728 in Rome by Riccardo Broschi, which he acquired the year after during ...

'' – Concert performance) *Bertarido (Händel: '' Rodelinda'' – Concert performance) *Rinaldo (Händel: '' Rinaldo'' – Concert performance) *Elisa ( G. B. Bononcini: ''Astarto'' – Concert performance) *Vénus (Saint-Saëns: '' Hélène'' – Concert performance) *Alcina (Vivaldi: '' Orlando furioso'' – State Opera Prague) *Prince Orlofsky (J. Strauss II: ''Die Fledermaus'' – State Opera Prague) *Fenena (Verdi: ''

Nabucco ''Nabucco'' (, short for Nabucodonosor ; en, "Nebuchadnezzar") is an Italian-language opera in four acts composed in 1841 by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera. The libretto is based on the biblical books of 2 Kings, J ...

'' – State Opera Prague) *Mercedes (Bizet: '' Carmen'' – State Opera Prague) *Béatrice (Berlioz: '' Béatrice et Bénédict'' – State Opera Prag) *Second Lady (Mozart: ''The Magic Flute'' – State Opera Prague; National Theatre Prague) *Second Wood Sprite (Dvořák: ''Rusalka'' – State Opera Prague; National Theatre Prague) *Dorabella (Mozart: ''Così fan tutte'' – Opera Mozart; State Opera Prague; National Theatre Prague) *Hirte (Puccini: ''

Tosca ''Tosca'' is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language drama ...

'' – National Theatre Prague) *Záviš (Smetana: ''

The Devil's Wall ''The Devil's Wall'' ( cs, Čertova stěna) is a comic-romantic opera in three acts, with music by Bedřich Smetana and libretto by Eliška Krásnohorská, in their third operatic collaboration. The subtext of the plot is a Czech legend of a shee ...

'' – National Theatre Prague) *Cherubino (Mozart: ''Le nozze di Figaro'' – National Theatre Prague) *Minerva (Rameau: ''

Castor et Pollux ''Castor et Pollux'' (''Castor and Pollux'') is an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau, first performed on 24 October 1737 by the Académie royale de musique at its theatre in the Palais-Royal in Paris. The librettist was Pierre-Joseph-Justin Bernard ...

'' – National Theatre Prague) *Karolka (Janáček: ''

'' – National Theatre Prague; Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris)

Recordings

*1998 '' Jakub Jan Ryba: Czech Christmas Mass (Zdena Kloubová, Pavla Vykopalová, Tomáš Černý, Roman Janál; Czech Radio Chamber Choir; Kühn Children Choir; Virtuosi di Praga) *2003 '' Antonín Rejcha – Lenore'' (Dramatic Cantata after G.&.B.Bürger (1805/1806),

Camilla Nylund Camilla Nylund (born 11 June 1968) is a Finnish operatic soprano. She appears internationally in lyric-dramatic roles such as Beethoven's Leonore, Verdi's Elisabetta, and Wagner's Elisabeth and Sieglinde. She is especially known for portrayin ...

(Lenore), Pavla Vykopalová (Mother), Corby Welch (Narrator), Vladimir Chmelo (Wilhelm), Prague Chamber Choir *2005 '' Bedřich Antonín Wiedermann'' (Irena Chřibková – organ, Pavla Vykopalová – mezzo-soprano); the CD contains unique and until that time not recorded works of a composer and organist (1883–1951) who worked at the St. Jacob‘s Basilika in Prague.

References

External links

Official Homepage of Pavla VykopalováProfile of Pavla Vykopalová – National Theatre BrnoProfile of Pavla Vykopalová – National Theatre PragueInterview for
'' Opera News'', May 2007
Interview for the OperaPLUS
portal, February 2010 {{DEFAULTSORT:Vykopalova, Pavla 1972 births Living people Musicians from Prague Czech operatic sopranos 20th-century Czech women opera singers 21st-century Czech women opera singers Recipients of the Thalia Award