大象传媒

Smetana plans his conquest of Prague鈥檚 new opera theatre. With Donald Macleod.

The title of Smetana鈥檚 most popular work, 鈥楳a Vlast鈥�, gives us a clue to what drove him through much of his career. It translates as 鈥楳y Homeland鈥� and the music is Smetana鈥檚 ardent tribute to the Czech sprit of his beloved Bohemia. The composer was deeply involved with his people鈥檚 struggle for cultural and political independence from the Hapsburg empire. He pledged his art to those aims, and he even took to the streets to fight on the barricades, on one occasion.
Smetana鈥檚 life was also beset by great misfortunes. When times were hardest, he always turned to music, even after illness made composing an almost impossible exertion. He created some of his most extraordinary works under the most painful circumstances. This week, Donald Macleod follows Smetana as he grows from na茂ve revolutionary into one of the foundational figures in Czech music.

Today, Smetana is determined to put himself at the centre of Prague鈥檚 most exciting new project: a national theatre dedicated to promoting Czech culture. His lack of experience, outspoken attitude and many rivals soon threaten to scupper his ambitions.

Overture to Old艡ich and Bo啪ena
Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Ko拧ice; conducted by Robert Stankovsky

Song of the Czechs
Czech Philharmonic Chorus
Prague Symphony Orchestra; conducted by Zden臎k Ko拧ler

Overture to Doktor Faust
Jan谩膷ek Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Theodore Kuchar

The Brandenburgers in Bohemia (extracts)
Milada 艩ubrtov谩, soprano
Miloslava Fidlerov谩, soprano
Vera Soukupov谩, contralto
Anton铆n Votava, tenor
Bohum铆r V铆ch, tenor
Prague National Theatre Chorus
Prague National Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Jan Hus Tich媒

The Bartered Bride: Act III finale
Dana Buresov谩, soprano (Marenka)
Tom谩s Juh谩s, tenor (Jen铆k)
Ales Vor谩cek, tenor (Vasek)
Gust谩v Bel谩膷ek, bass (Micha)
Jozsef Benci, bass (Kecal)
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek