Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Dvořák: Der Jakobiner / Albrecht, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Orfeo

Dvořák: Der Jakobiner / Albrecht, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

$48.99 Only 3 left

Details

Composer
DVORÁK, ANTONÍN
Artist
Stephinger, Bronikowski, Holland, Danková, Mikulás, Lehotsky, Georg, Lorenz, Ághová, Prager Kammerch
Format
CD
Label
Orfeo
Released
Dec 08, 2004
Catalog #
ORF-C641043
UPC
4011790641324

About

REVIEW:

Orfeo's ongoing series of major Dvorák operas and choral works constitutes a genuinely important contribution to the history of recordings, and I hope that it will continue as successfully as it has to this point. There is no other way to get fully acceptable, modern performances of masterworks such as Vanda, or St. Ludmila, and this new recording of The Jacobin, the first in many decades, may be the best of all. There's no other opera quite like it. As a comedy with serious elements, you really would have to go back to Mozart to find anything similar, even though the rustic village setting and plot remain very different from anything that you would have found in an 18th-century setting.

The story is simple, but quite moving. Count Harasov has disowned his only son Bohus as a result of his pro-revolutionary (French) sympathies, which have been exaggerated and distorted by the presciently-named Adolf, the count's nephew and now his presumptive heir. With the death of his wife the count wishes to retire and leave Adolf in charge, along with his pompous henchman, the Burgomaster Filip, who has his sights set on the lively and luscious Terinka, daughter of the village music master Benda. Terinka wanted to marry Jirí, a young hothead and (not incidentally) Benda's prized tenor. Into this situation step Bohus and his French wife Julia, refugees who in fact have a price on their heads arising from their opposition to the atrocities committed in the name of the Revolution.

The ultimate reconciliation between father and son is the primary theme of the opera, but it also has important sub-themes: love of one's country, the love of Benda for his daughter, the conflict between generations, the triumph of egalitarian ideals, and everyone's love of music. It is in fact music, in the form of the dead countess' lullaby sung by Julia to the embittered count, that brings about the happy ending. There's also a brilliant set-piece rehearsal (at the beginning of Act 2) of a homage cantata composed by Benda. It's fabulous. All of the characters, save for the evil Adolph, are fully fleshed out human beings, and the music follows the twists and turns of the plot with the sure hand of a master. The distribution of voices also is very effective: Filip is a bass; the Count, Bohus, and Adolph are baritones; Jirí and Benda are tenors, while Julia and Terinka are sopranos. This makes for some wonderful ensemble writing both with and without the chorus. It is simply impossible to listen to this piece and not conclude that Dvorák was as fine a composer of opera as he was at just about everything else that he touched.

With only a single (but excellent) previous recording available on Supraphon, there's not much competition in this piece, but this newcomer is every bit as fine as its predecessor. Among the women, Andrea Danková's Julia stands out for her beautiful tone and the conviction she brings to her Act 3 confrontation with the count, also very well sung by Christoph Stephinger. Marcin Bronikowski brings virility and intelligence to his portrait of Bohus, and his singing (along with Danková) of the big Act 2 duet "We have wandered in foreign lands" is both moving and impassioned. Michal Lehotsky and Lívia Ághová make a lively pair of young lovers, and Peter Mikulás makes Filip sound aptly bombastic without hamming it up too much.

Gerd Albrecht leads the entire cast, choirs, and orchestra in as vital and persuasive an account of the score as did his counterpart on Supraphon, Jirí Pinkas, and he has much better sonics and the excellent Cologne Radio Orchestra at his disposal. The libretto includes a full English translation and excellent notes. The only problem I can see is that at three CDs, this is an expensive set. Lasting two and a half hours, the work just barely fits on two discs, which is how Supraphon presents it (the timings are virtually identical in comparison), but the quality of the results here justifies the premium price. After all, until the rest of the world wakes up to just how great this work is and starts producing it as often as we see Rusalka, we're not exactly spoiled for choice, and I feel confident that you will fall in love with the music and play it often. So go ahead: treat yourself. This is what recordings are for.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com (10/10)

Tracklist 29 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Act I: Introduction 01:05
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: Introduction
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  3. 2 Act I Scene 1: Sve hlavy v prachu sklanime (Chorus, Bohus, Julia) 08:51
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Sve hlavy v prachu sklanime (Chorus, Bohus, Julia)
    Duration
    08:51
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Marcin Bronikowski, Andrea Danková
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  4. 3 Act I Scene 2: Jen postujme tu okamzeni (Chorus, Children's Chorus) 03:52
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Jen postujme tu okamzeni (Chorus, Children's Chorus)
    Duration
    03:52
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, Knaben des Kölner Domchores, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  5. 4 Act I Scene 3: Uceny pane, dobry den! (Benda, Terinka, Jiri, Filip) 05:09
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I Scene 3: Uceny pane, dobry den! (Benda, Terinka, Jiri, Filip)
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Peter Mikuláš
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  6. 5 Act I Scene 4: Zle je, zle je, ha, ha, ha, ha! (Boys Chorus, Jiri) 02:28
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I Scene 4: Zle je, zle je, ha, ha, ha, ha! (Boys Chorus, Jiri)
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Michal Lehotský
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, Knaben des Kölner Domchores, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  7. 6 Act I Scene 5: Ja stastne, se ho zbavila (Terinka, Jiri, Filip, Chorus) 05:00
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I Scene 5: Ja stastne, se ho zbavila (Terinka, Jiri, Filip, Chorus)
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Peter Mikuláš
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  8. 7 Act I Scene 6: To mne stat! Tak ctite pana! (Filip, Chorus) 03:53
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: To mne stat! Tak ctite pana! (Filip, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:53
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Peter Mikuláš
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  9. 8 Act I Scene 7: Chci s tebou promluvit! (Jiri, Terinka, Filip) 07:43
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I Scene 7: Chci s tebou promluvit! (Jiri, Terinka, Filip)
    Duration
    07:43
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Michal Lehotský, Lívia Ághová, Peter Mikuláš
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  10. 9 Act I Scene 8: Dovolte mi, pane … (Bohus, Julia, Jiri, Terinka, Filip) 05:00
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I Scene 8: Dovolte mi, pane … (Bohus, Julia, Jiri, Terinka, Filip)
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Marcin Bronikowski, Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Peter Mikuláš
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  11. 10 Act I Scene 9: Slyste nas, kde jste, slyste nas! (Chorus, Terinka, Jiri, Benda, Bohus, Julia, Filip) 01:15
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I Scene 9: Slyste nas, kde jste, slyste nas! (Chorus, Terinka, Jiri, Benda, Bohus, Julia, Filip)
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Marcin Bronikowski, Andrea Danková, Peter Mikuláš
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  12. 11 Act I Scene 10: Slava, slava, slava! (Chorus, Bohus, Julia, Adolf, Terinka, Benda, Jiri, Graf, Filip) 04:36
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I Scene 10: Slava, slava, slava! (Chorus, Bohus, Julia, Adolf, Terinka, Benda, Jiri, Graf, Filip)
    Duration
    04:36
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Marcin Bronikowski, Andrea Danková, Mark Holland, Lívia Ághová, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Michal Lehotský, Christoph Stephinger, Peter Mikuláš
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  13. Disc 2
  14. 1 Act II: Introduction 02:17
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act II: Introduction
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  15. 2 Act II Scene 1: Tak, moji drazi! (Benda, Jiri, Terinka, Chorus, Children's Chorus) 02:23
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Tak, moji drazi! (Benda, Jiri, Terinka, Chorus, Children's Chorus)
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Michal Lehotský, Lívia Ághová
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, Knaben des Kölner Domchores, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  16. 3 Act II Scene 1: Serenade (Benda, Jiri, Terinka, Chorus, Children's Chorus) 07:16
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Serenade (Benda, Jiri, Terinka, Chorus, Children's Chorus)
    Duration
    07:16
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Michal Lehotský, Lívia Ághová
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, Knaben des Kölner Domchores, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  17. 4 Act II Scene 2: Ach boze, bozinku (Terinka, Jiri) 09:23
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Ach boze, bozinku (Terinka, Jiri)
    Duration
    09:23
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  18. 5 Act II Scene 3: Vzbud se, doufej (Terinka, Jiri, Benda) 03:33
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Vzbud se, doufej (Terinka, Jiri, Benda)
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  19. 6 Act II Scene 4: Pane uciteli, pane uciteli (Terinka, Jiri, Benda, Girls Chorus) 00:38
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II Scene 4: Pane uciteli, pane uciteli (Terinka, Jiri, Benda, Girls Chorus)
    Duration
    00:38
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  20. 7 Act II Scene 5: Oni sami, Jakobini! (Terinka, Jiri, Benda, Girls Chorus, Bohus, Julia) 08:59
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 5: Oni sami, Jakobini! (Terinka, Jiri, Benda, Girls Chorus, Bohus, Julia)
    Duration
    08:59
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Marcin Bronikowski, Andrea Danková
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  21. 8 Act II Scene 6: Jak vzacni hoste k nam! (Benda, Filip, Jiri, Terinka) 08:22
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II Scene 6: Jak vzacni hoste k nam! (Benda, Filip, Jiri, Terinka)
    Duration
    08:22
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Peter Mikuláš, Michal Lehotský, Lívia Ághová
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  22. 9 Act II Scene 7: Vase milost! (Benda, Terinka, Jiri, Filip, Adolf, Bohus) 03:02
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II Scene 7: Vase milost! (Benda, Terinka, Jiri, Filip, Adolf, Bohus)
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Lívia Ághová, Michal Lehotský, Peter Mikuláš, Mark Holland, Marcin Bronikowski
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  23. 10 Act II Scene 8: Ja chranim vas! (Bohus, Jiri, Adolf, Filip, Julia, Terinka, Benda, Chorus) 11:06
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II Scene 8: Ja chranim vas! (Bohus, Jiri, Adolf, Filip, Julia, Terinka, Benda, Chorus)
    Duration
    11:06
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Marcin Bronikowski, Michal Lehotský, Peter Mikuláš, Andrea Danková, Lívia Ághová, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  24. Disc 3
  25. 1 Act III: Introduction - Scene 1: Ne, pust'te mne (Jiri, Adolf, Filip, Lotinka) 04:07
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act III: Introduction - Scene 1: Ne, pust'te mne (Jiri, Adolf, Filip, Lotinka)
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Michal Lehotský, Mark Holland, Peter Mikuláš, Mechthild Georg
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  26. 2 Act III Scene 2: Jen tise, vejdete! (Lotinka, Julia, Benda) 02:10
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Jen tise, vejdete! (Lotinka, Julia, Benda)
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Mechthild Georg, Andrea Danková, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  27. 3 Act III Scene 3: Zde k noham vasi milosti (Benda, Graf) 07:48
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III Scene 3: Zde k noham vasi milosti (Benda, Graf)
    Duration
    07:48
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Christoph Stephinger
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  28. 4 Act III Scene 4: Jsem v koncich (Benda, Julia) 01:56
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act III Scene 4: Jsem v koncich (Benda, Julia)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Andrea Danková
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  29. 5 Act III Scene 5: Mne zdalo se? (Graf, Julia) 04:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act III Scene 5: Mne zdalo se? (Graf, Julia)
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Christoph Stephinger, Andrea Danková
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  30. 6 Act III Scene 6: O, odpust', pane! (Graf, Julia, Kinderchor) 05:11
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: O, odpust', pane! (Graf, Julia, Kinderchor)
    Duration
    05:11
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Christoph Stephinger, Andrea Danková
    Ensemble
    Knaben des Kölner Domchores, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  31. 7 Act III Scene 7: Jen chvili, zkousky (Graf, Adolf, Filip, Benda, Chorus, Children's Chorus) 07:27
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III Scene 7: Jen chvili, zkousky (Graf, Adolf, Filip, Benda, Chorus, Children's Chorus)
    Duration
    07:27
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Christoph Stephinger, Mark Holland, Peter Mikuláš, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, Knaben des Kölner Domchores, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht
  32. 8 Act III Scene 8: Muj synu, me dite! (Graf, Bohus, Adolf, Filip, Benda, Julia, Jiri, Terinka, Chorus, Children's Chorus) 15:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III Scene 8: Muj synu, me dite! (Graf, Bohus, Adolf, Filip, Benda, Julia, Jiri, Terinka, Chorus, Children's Chorus)
    Duration
    15:07
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Christoph Stephinger, Marcin Bronikowski, Mark Holland, Peter Mikuláš, Eberhard Francesco Lorenz, Andrea Danková, Michal Lehotský, Lívia Ághová
    Ensemble
    Prague Chamber Choir, Knaben des Kölner Domchores, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Gerd Albrecht