''Libuše'' () is a "festival opera" in three acts, with music by

Bedřich Smetana Bedřich Smetana ( ; ; 2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style that became closely identified with his people's aspirations to a cultural and political "revival". He has been regarded ...

. The

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

was originally written in German by Josef Wenzig, and was then translated into Czech by . In Czech historical myth,

Libuše , Libussa, Libushe or, historically ''Lubossa'', is a legendary ancestor of the Přemyslid dynasty and the Czechs, Czech people as a whole. According to legend, she was the youngest but wisest of three sisters, who became queen after their father ...

, the title character, prophesied the founding of

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

Background

The opera was composed in 1871–72. From the very beginning, the new opera's premiere was destined to mark a major, exceptional event. After abandoning an initial idea to dedicate it to the coronation of the Austrian Emperor as King of Bohemia (which actually never happened), Smetana focused on a historic occasion whose dimension was indeed exclusively national, namely, the inauguration of the National Theatre in Prague. Consequently, the premiere had to wait for nine years after the opera's completion, until 11 June, 1881. After that, Libuše was also performed as part of the National Theatre's definitive reopening on 18 November, 1883, following its previous destruction by a fire. By then, however, Smetana had already suffered a complete loss of hearing and was unable to listen to his music. Smetana's aim was to create a ”glorious tableau”. He carried out his declared task with honour, and being a consummate dramatist he did not in the process limit himself to producing a static illustration of a well-known story. Rather, the opera's score stands out for its wealth of musical architecture, alternating monumental passages with lyric images of nature, professions of love with scenes of strife packed with drama, a rustic dance with a ceremonial march. Commentators have noted the pageant-like nature of the opera and the influence of

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

in the music. Finally, the whole is topped off by a closing scene of Libuše's prophecy, manifesting confidence in the lasting vitality and glory of the Czech nation. Smetana was well aware of his opera's exceptional status; he did not intend it to become a standard repertoire number, but wished its performances to be limited to ”festive occasions marked by the entire Czech nation”. This wish of the composer has since his time continued to be the norm to this day.

Roles

Synopsis

Source:

Act 1

At the majestic castle of

Vyšehrad Vyšehrad (German: ''Wyschehrad,'' ''Prager Hochburg'', English: "upper castle") is a historic fort in Prague, Czech Republic, just over 3 km southeast of Prague Castle, on the east bank of the Vltava River. It was probably built in the 1 ...

, the Czech princess

is set to adjudicate a dispute between two brothers, Chrudoš and Šťáhlav, over their father's legacy. Czech law dictates either co-management or equal division of the land. German law, which Chrudoš, the elder, favours, would demand

primogeniture Primogeniture () is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn Legitimacy (family law), legitimate child to inheritance, inherit all or most of their parent's estate (law), estate in preference to shared inheritance among all or some childre ...

, where the elder sibling would inherit the entire property. Libuše prays to the gods for her people's unity. At the same time, Krasava confides to Radmila, the brothers' sister, with her concerns about the dispute's outcome. Libuše's judgment stipulates an equal division of the estate between the two brothers. Hot-blooded Chrudoš refuses to accept the verdict, claiming that it's not for a woman to judge in a men's dispute. Feeling humiliated, the princess decides to give the Czechs a male prince, and to become his consort. She sends out a deputation to Přemysl of Stadice, with whom she has long been in love.

Act 2

At the burial mound of the two brothers' father, Krasava confesses to her father, Lutobor, that she is the true reason behind the dispute, as she has kindled Chrudoš's jealousy by feigning her love of Šťáhlav. Obeying Lutobor's order, she becomes reconciled with Chrudoš, and presently also has the two brothers make peace between themselves. Meanwhile in Stadice, as the air fills with farmhands' song Přemysl is immersed in loving memories of Libuše. Libuše's deputation arrives, headed by Radovan, to guide Přemysl to Vyšehrad as the princess's future husband and prince of the Czechs.

Act 3

At Vyšehrad, Libuše, welcoming peace being restored between the two brothers, gives Krasava to Chrudoš as his wife. Now at Libuše's side, Přemysl assumes his princely powers and calls on Chrudoš to apologize to the princess for the offence. The young hotspur, who has so far stubbornly declined, is now ready to yield. Přemysl gives him a brotherly embrace. All present rejoice at the reconciliation. Under the impact of the auspicious moment, Libuše utters a prophecy envisioning a bright future for the Czech nation (including union with Moravia under Břetislav l; the salvaging of Moravia from Tartar invasion through the endeavour of Jaroslav ze Šternberka; the Kingdom of Bohemia's prosperity during the rules of Přemysl Otakar II and Charles IV; the

Hussite file:Hussitenkriege.tif, upright=1.2, Battle between Hussites (left) and Crusades#Campaigns against heretics and schismatics, Catholic crusaders in the 15th century file:The Bohemian Realm during the Hussite Wars.png, upright=1.2, The Lands of the ...

era; and the rule of the peacemaker King Jiří z Poděbrad). In her prophecy, Libuše does not fail to mention also the dark periods looming ahead for the Czech nation, but she stays firmly convinced of its perseverance with which it will gloriously prevail even over the “horrors of hell”.

Orchestration

Piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, four trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbals, bass drum, harp, strings. Onstage trumpets.

Performance history

Given regularly in Czechoslovakia up to 1992, and the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

and

Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...

since, it is rarity elsewhere. The first US performance was on 13 March 1986, in a concert version at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

with Eve Queler and the Opera Orchestra of New York and Gabriela Beňačková in the title role. It was given in concert form at the

Edinburgh International Festival The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, spread over the final three weeks in August. Notable figures from the international world of music (especially european classical music, classical music) and ...

on 4 September 1998, with

Eva Urbanová Eva Urbanová (born 20 April 1961) is a Czech operatic soprano who has had an active international career since 1987. She has been a principal artist at the National Theatre in Prague since 1990 and has appeared as a guest artist at many of the w ...

and a Czech cast, the

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is a Scottish broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is the oldest full-time professional rad ...

conducted by Oliver von Dohnányi. The first UK staged performance was by

University College Opera University College Opera, or UCOpera, is the student opera company of University College London. The operas are staged by professional singers, directors and designers, with the orchestra, chorus and some singers drawn from the student body. Fou ...

in 2019.

Recordings

* 1949, Alois Klíma (conductor), Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Prague Radio; Marie Podvalová, Theodor Šrubař,

Karel Kalaš Karel Kalaš (9 October 1910 – 3 May 2001) was a 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 p ...

Beno Blachut Beno Blachut (14 June 1913 – 10 January 1985) was a lauded Czechoslovakia, Czech operatic tenor. An icon in his own nation, Blachut drew international acclaim through his many commercial recordings of Czech music. He was an instrumental part o ...

, Jaroslav Veverka, Bořek Rujan, Ludmila Červinková, Marta Krásová * 1966, Jaroslav Krombholc (conductor), Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Naděžda Kniplová, Vacláv Bednár, Věra Soukupová, Zdeněk Kroupa,

Ivo Žídek Ivo Žídek (4 June 1926, Kravaře – 19 May 2003, Prague) was a Czech lyric tenor, known for his vivid portrayals of character roles in the operas of Smetana, Dvořák and Janáček. Early life Ivo Žídek was born in Kravaře, Czechosl ...

, Karel Berman, Jindrich Jindrák,

Milada Šubrtová Milada Šubrtová (24 May 1924 – 1 August 2011) 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 post-World War II Czech opera singers that ...

* 1983, Zdeněk Košler (conductor), Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Gabriela Beňačková, Václav Zítek,

Antonín Švorc Antonín Švorc (12 February 1934, in Jaroměř – 21 February 2011) was a Czech Republic, Czech operatic bass-baritone. He studied with J. Berlíka at the Prague Conservatory before making his professional opera debut at the Liberec Theatre in 19 ...

, Leo Marian Vodička, Eva Děpoltová, Karel Prusa, René Tucek, Věra Soukupová * 1995, Oliver Dohnányi (conductor), Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus;

, Vratislav Kříž, Luděk Vele, Miloslav Podskalský, Miroslava Volková, Jan Markvart, Pavel Červinka, Helena Kaupová

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Libuse (opera) Operas by Bedřich Smetana Czech-language operas 1881 operas Operas Operas set in Bohemia