Stage-struck

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

The title of Smetana’s most popular work, ‘Ma Vlast’, gives us a clue to what drove him through much of his career. It translates as ‘My Homeland’ and the music is Smetana’s ardent tribute to the Czech sprit of his beloved Bohemia. The composer was deeply involved with his people’s 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’s 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 naïve revolutionary into one of the foundational figures in Czech music.

Today, Smetana is determined to put himself at the centre of Prague’s 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 Oldřich and Božena
Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Košice; conducted by Robert Stankovsky

Song of the Czechs
Czech Philharmonic Chorus
Prague Symphony Orchestra; conducted by Zdeněk Košler

Overture to Doktor Faust
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Theodore Kuchar

The Brandenburgers in Bohemia (extracts)
Milada Šubrtová, soprano
Miloslava Fidlerová, soprano
Vera Soukupová, contralto
Antonín Votava, tenor
Bohumír Vích, tenor
Prague National Theatre Chorus
Prague National Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Jan Hus Tichý

The Bartered Bride: Act III finale
Dana Buresová, soprano (Marenka)
Tomás Juhás, tenor (Jeník)
Ales Vorácek, tenor (Vasek)
Gustáv Beláček, bass (Micha)
Jozsef Benci, bass (Kecal)
BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek