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Smetana: Libuse / Talich, Czech Philharmonic
Supraphon

Smetana: Libuse / Talich, Czech Philharmonic

$28.99

Details

Composer
SMETANA, BEDRICH
Artist
Talich
Format
CD
Label
Supraphon
Released
May 22, 2020
Catalog #
SU4279-2
UPC
099925427924

About

The recording of the concert performance in Nazi-occupied Prague of Bedrich Smetana’s My Country (SU 4065-2) conducted by Václav Talich, which took place on 5 July 1939, drew considerable attention worldwide (Special Historic Gramophone Award 2012). It seemed that Talich’s discography had thus been rounded off for good. Yet the personal effects of the late soprano Marie Podvalová, renowned for her outstanding portrayal of Princess Libuše, provided yet another gem. A week prior to the mentioned performance of My Country, on 29 May 1939 a recording was made at the National Theatre of Talich’s account of Smetana’s opera Libuše. Fragments of Act 3 have been reconstructed from the miraculously surviving foils (the present album also contains the 1940 recording of the Overture). In 1939, Libuše’s prophecy in Act 3 of Smetana’s opera must have sounded to Czech ears like an immensely bold declaration of national pride and courage. Although incomplete and far from being perfect in terms of the quality of sound, the recording’s value is truly immense. It is the one and only recording of an opera conducted by Talich, the oldest surviving transmission of an opera performance from the National Theatre in Prague, and the last staging of Libuše during the Nazi occupation before its performances were strictly banned. The audience’s long tumultuous applause and spontaneous singing of the national anthem attest to the moment’s enormous emotional gravity, imbuing the recording with exceptional energy. Talich’s unique account of Libuše – a bold manifestation of national pride and bravery in 1939 in Nazi-occupied Prague

Tracklist 11 tracks

  1. 1 Libuše: Overture 08:48
    Track
    1
    Title
    Libuše: Overture
    Duration
    08:48
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Ensemble
    Tschechische Philharmonie
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  2. 2 Act III: Mír zjednán mezi oběma zas bratry (Peace Is Made Again Between Two Brothers) 02:41
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III: Mír zjednán mezi oběma zas bratry (Peace Is Made Again Between Two Brothers)
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  3. 3 Act III: Ó, díky tobě (O, Receive Our Thanks) 01:24
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III: Ó, díky tobě (O, Receive Our Thanks)
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  4. 4 Act III: On jde! (He comes! He still remains hidden) 02:30
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act III: On jde! (He comes! He still remains hidden)
    Duration
    02:30
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  5. 5 Act III: Buď vítaná (Welcome to us) 00:57
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act III: Buď vítaná (Welcome to us)
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  6. 6 Act III: Ó bratře, drahý bratře (O, Brother, My Dear Brother) 02:18
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III: Ó bratře, drahý bratře (O, Brother, My Dear Brother)
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  7. 7 Act III: Slavnostní pochod (Ceremonial Procession) 05:02
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III: Slavnostní pochod (Ceremonial Procession)
    Duration
    05:02
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  8. 8 Act III: Hoj, tvrdý Vyšehrad (Hail, stronghold of Vyšehrad) 05:02
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III: Hoj, tvrdý Vyšehrad (Hail, stronghold of Vyšehrad)
    Duration
    05:02
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  9. 9 Act III: Sňatek váš buď požehnán (Your Wedding Be Celebrated) 08:28
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III: Sňatek váš buď požehnán (Your Wedding Be Celebrated)
    Duration
    08:28
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  10. 10 Act III: Libušino proroctví (Libuše's Prophecy) 16:26
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III: Libušino proroctví (Libuše's Prophecy)
    Duration
    16:26
    Composer
    Bedřich Smetana
    Performer
    Marie Podvalová, Otta Horáková, Marta Krásová, Josef Vojta, Stanislav Muž, Josef Krikava, Vilém Zítek, Jaroslav Veverka
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich
  11. 11 Czech Republic [Česká státní hymna (Czech State Hymn), "Where is my home …"] 03:44
    Track
    11
    Title
    Czech Republic [Česká státní hymna (Czech State Hymn), "Where is my home …"]
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    František Jan Škroup
    Ensemble
    Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra
    Conductor
    Václav Talich