Experience the historical grandeur and patriotic fervor of Bedřich Smetana's operatic debut with "The Brandenburgers in Bohemia." This three-act opera, composed between 1862 and 1863, is a powerful portrayal of Czech history and the aspiration for freedom, set against the backdrop of a tumultuous period from 1278 to 1283. The opera features a rich tapestry of characters and a compelling narrative, brought to life by the Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Jan Hus Tichý.
The album, released on June 21, 2024, by Supraphon a.s., offers a comprehensive exploration of Smetana's early masterpiece. With a duration of over two hours and twenty-nine minutes, this recording captures the essence of Czech patriotism and the dramatic tension of the era. The libretto, penned by Karel Sabina, weaves a story of intrigue, love, and political strife, making it a significant work in the canon of Czech opera.
This release is a testament to Smetana's genius, showcasing his ability to blend historical narrative with powerful musical expression. The Brandenburgers in Bohemia is not just an opera; it is a historical document, a musical journey through a pivotal time in Czech history. The performances by the Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus, along with a stellar cast of soloists, bring authenticity and depth to the score, making this recording a valuable addition to any classical music collection.
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 father of Czech national music and a pivotal figure in the Romantic era. His compositions, including the iconic symphonic poem cycle "Má vlast" and beloved operas like "The Bartered Bride" and "Libuše," have left an indelible mark on classical music. Smetana's journey began at the age of four when he started learning the violin and later the piano, under his father's guidance. His musical prowess extended beyond composition; he was also a renowned pianist, chamber musician, and respected music educator. As a director and influential critic, Smetana's organizational efforts significantly shaped the cultural landscape of his time. Despite facing personal tragedies, including gradual hearing loss, his legacy endures, inspiring generations of composers and solidifying his status as one of the most esteemed Czech musicians worldwide. His contributions to music are not just heard but felt, making him a timeless figure in the classical music canon.
Vinylscout
Bedřich Smetana
