The Death of Vlasta

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The Death of Vlasta (Czech: Vlasty skon) is a 1903 opera by Otakar Ostrčil. The story concerns Vlasta, leader of warriors in The Maidens' War legend and is connected to the subject matter of Smetana's Libuše and Fibich's Šárka (and later Janáček's Šárka).

Otakar Ostrčil Czech conductor and composer

Otakar Ostrčil was a Czech composer and conductor. He is noted for symphonic works Impromptu, Suite in C Minor, and Symfonietta, and in his opera compositions Poupě and Honzovo království.

<i>The Maidens War</i>

"The Maidens' War" is a tale in Bohemian tradition about an uprising of women against men. It first appeared in the twelfth-century Chronica Boëmorum of Cosmas of Prague, and later in the fourteenth-century Dalimil's Chronicle.

<i>Libuše</i> (opera) opera by Bedřich Smetana

Libuše  is a '"festival opera" in three acts, with music by Bedřich Smetana. The libretto was originally written in German by Josef Wenzig, and was then translated into Czech by Ervin Špindler. In Czech historical myth, Libuše, the title character, prophesied the founding of Prague. The opera was composed in 1871–72 for the coronation of Franz Josef as King of Bohemia. This did not happen and Smetana saved Libuše for the opening of the National Theatre in Prague, which took place nine years later on 11 June 1881. After the destruction of the National Theatre in a fire, the same opera opened the reconstructed theatre in 1883. The first US performance was reported to have occurred March 1986, in a concert version at Carnegie Hall with Eve Queler and the Opera Orchestra of New York.

Karel Pippich, author of the drama Vlasty skon: Dramatická báseň o třech jednáních, určená pro drama (1885), first offered the story to Antonín Dvořák, but he declined, so it was later accepted by Fibich's pupil Ostrčil. [1] [2] [3]

Karel Pippich Czech member of Czech council, attorney, playwright, local politician and sports official

Karel Pippich was a Czech lawyer, Sokol organizer and writer.

Antonín Dvořák Czech composer

Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer, one of the first to achieve worldwide recognition. Following the Romantic-era nationalist example of his predecessor Bedřich Smetana, Dvořák frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák's own style has been described as "the fullest recreation of a national idiom with that of the symphonic tradition, absorbing folk influences and finding effective ways of using them".

The opera was only performed six times.[ citation needed ]

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Ivan Kusnjer opera singer

Ivan Kusnjer is a Czech baritone opera singer. His discography includes recordings of many of the main baritone roles of Czech opera and song.

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References

  1. Wörner, Karl Heinrich (1973). History of music: a book for study and reference. Collier Macmillan. He wrote five operas: Vlasty skon, or Vlasti's Death, to a text by Karel Pippich (Prague 1904) [sic] ... The first opera, Vlasta's Death, which grew out of the national mythic soil, reveals Ostrcil's close study of Fibich.
  2. Clapham, John (1979). Dvořák. David & Charles. p. 163. ISBN   9780715377901. He turned down Pippich's text 'The Death of Vlasta', but when routing around the archives of the National Theatre he came across something much more attractive. This was Hostinsky's libretto.
  3. Dvořák, Otakar (1993). Antonín Dvořák, my father. Translated by Paul J. Polansky. Czech Historical Research Center. p. 95. Dr. Pippich from Chrudim offered my father the text Vlasty Skon (Vlasta's End). Father liked this very much and decided to ask Dr. Pippich for some corrections for a composition. At the same time Otakar Ostrcil was already working on...