Rusalka, Op. 114, is an opera by Antonín Dvořák. His ninth opera (1900–1901), it became his most successful, frequenting the standard repertoire worldwide. Jaroslav Kvapil wrote the libretto on Karel Jaromír Erben's and Božena Němcová's fairy tales. The rusalka is a water sprite from Slavic mythology; it usually inhabits a lake or river.
Prenk Jakova was an Albanian composer, musician, and author of Mrika (1958), which is considered the first Albanian opera. A native of Shkodër, he studied under Martin Gjoka and Zef Kurti, and he was also an alumnus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. A virtuoso clarinetist he worked as a music teacher for most of his life and distinguished himself as the mentor of the four most important composers of classical music from northern Albania: Çesk Zadeja, Tish Daija, Tonin Harapi, and Simon Gjoni. Jakova was the director of the music band and of the House of Culture of Shkodër. Besides Mrika, Jakova also composed Skënderbeu, another opera which premiered in 1968.
Gabriela Beňačková also Gabriela Beňačková-Čápová is a Slovak lyric soprano.
Albert Rosen was an Austrian-born and Czech/Irish-naturalised conductor associated with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Wexford Festival, the National Theatre in Prague and J. K. Tyl Theatre in Plzeň (Pilsen). He had a strong affinity with the works of Czech composers such as Smetana, Dvořák, Martinů and Janáček.
Josef Kajetán Tyl Theatre is a main theatre in Plzeň, Czech Republic. The theatre was built between 1899 and 1902 in the Neo-Renaissance style with some Art Nouveau elements to the design of Antonin Balsanek. Every year the theatre performs some 18 premieres of drama, operas, operettas, ballets or musicals. Since September 2014, actors of the theatre also perform at the New Theatre.
Stanislava Součková was a Czech operatic soprano and the sister of baritone Jaroslav Souček. Between 1951 and 1961, she was a member of the principal artists at the Hudební divadlo Karlín where she appeared in leading roles in operettas. In 1961 she joined the Jihočeské divadlo in České Budějovice where she remained until her retirement in 1974. She also was a frequent guest artist at the National Theatre in Prague. After her retirement, she embarked on a second career as a voice teacher on the faculty of the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Budejovice.
Ladislav Mráz was a Czech operatic bass-baritone who had an active career in Czechoslovakia from 1943 through 1962. His voice is preserved on a number of recordings made on the Supraphon label, including complete recordings of Bedřich Smetana's The Devil's Wall and Antonín Dvořák's The Specter's Bride.
Milada Šubrtová 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 the post-World War II Czech opera singers that was responsible for popularizing Czech opera internationally. She drew particular acclaim for her portrayals of the title heroines in Leoš Janáček's Jenůfa and Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka. Her voice is preserved on a few complete opera recordings made on the Supraphon label. In 1998 she was honored with a Thalia Award.
Leo Marian Vodička is a Czech operatic tenor who has had an active international career since the early 1970s. He has sung on a number of complete opera recordings and appears in several filmed opera performances.
Jaroslava Maxová is a Czech mezzo-soprano opera singer and vocal coach.
The People's Artist was an honorary title for outstanding art performers of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts. It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980. The title is no longer given in Albania after the law was amended in 1996. The equivalent of it became the "Grand Master of Work" title, that was also substituted with the "Grand Master" title after a 2001 amendment of the 1996 law.
Pavla Vykopalová is a Czech operatic soprano.
Llazar Siliqi (1924–2001) was a notable Albanian poet. His poetic profile was influenced by the work of Mayakovsky.
Adolf Čech was a Czech conductor, who premiered a number of significant works by Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Zdeněk Fibich and other Czech composers. He also led the first performances outside Russia of two operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the Czech premieres of seven operettas by Jacques Offenbach. He was also a bass singer and a translator of opera librettos.
Kristaq Paspali was an Albanian operatic tenor.
Marie Kraja or Marie Paluca was an Albanian opera singer who is particularly known for her delivery of Albanian folk songs.
Gaqo Çako was an Albanian operatic tenor, awarded with the People's Artist of Albania title. He has been ranked among the best opera singers of Albania, along with Ramiz Kovaçi and Mentor Xhemali.
The Albanian opera includes the art of opera in Albania and opera in the Albanian language.
Pavel Černoch is a Czech operatic tenor.
