Smetana: The Two Widows

$19.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
February 13, 2026
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Bedrich Smetana
    • PERFORMER
      Adriana Kucerova, Katerina Knezikova, Pavol Breslik, Adam Plachetka, Jana Sibera, Petr Nekoranec, Pr
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      February 13, 2026
    • UPC
      730099060974
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8660609-10
    • LABEL
      Naxos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Overture

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    2. Act I Scene 1: Jitro krásné nebe jasné kyne nám (A lovely morning, clear skies greet us) (Chorus, Karolina)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adriana Kučerová

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    3. Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Dobré jitro, drahá sestřenice! (Good morning, dear cousin!) (Anežka, Karolína)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kateřina Kněžíková, Adriana Kučerová

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    4. Act I Scene 2: Samostatně vládnu já (I rule independently) (Karolína)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adriana Kučerová

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    5. Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Nuže, co mám tedy činit as? (Well then, what would you have me do?) (Anežka, Karolína)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kateřina Kněžíková, Adriana Kučerová

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    6. Act I Scene 3: Dobré jitro, milostivá paní! (Good morning, gracious lady!) (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adam Plachetka, Adriana Kučerová, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    7. Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Jedinou to jeho ctností (His only redeeming grace is…) - Scene 4: Přivede-li jej, co pak? (If he brings him here now, what then?) (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adam Plachetka, Adriana Kučerová, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    8. Act I Scene 5: Dlouho-li zde budu bloudit (Will I wander here long) (Ladislav, Mumlal)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pavol Breslik, Adam Plachetka

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    9. Act I Scene 6: Recitative: V pořádku vše, milostpaní! (Everything is in order, gracious lady!) (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adam Plachetka, Adriana Kučerová, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    10. Act I Scene 7: Vězeň přede dveřmi tam! (The prisoner is at the door!) (Mumlal, Karolina, Ladislav, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adam Plachetka, Adriana Kučerová, Pavol Breslik, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    11. Act I Finale: Mumlale, hle, tu vás máme (Look, Mumlal, we've got you here) (Chorus, Mumlal, Lidunka, Toník, Ladislav, Karolína, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adam Plachetka, Jana Sibera, Petr Nekoranec, Pavol Breslik, Adriana Kučerová, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    12. Act II: Prelude

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    13. Act II Scene 1: Piseň (Song): Když zavítá máj (When May comes calling) (Ladislav)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pavol Breslik

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    14. Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Nechati zde muže toho (Fine idea keeping that man here) (Anežka, Karolina, Mumlal)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kateřina Kněžíková, Adriana Kučerová, Adam Plachetka

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    15. Act II Scene 2: Není pochybnosti více (There is no more doubt) (Karolina, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adriana Kučerová, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    16. Act II Scene 3: Báseň! - Recitative: Dlouho-li pak chcete prchati (A poem! - Do you want to keep fleeing from me) (Anežka, Ladislav)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kateřina Kněžíková, Pavol Breslik

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    17. Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Stůjte, pane! Jakže? (Halt, sir! What?) (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adriana Kučerová, Kateřina Kněžíková, Pavol Breslik

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    18. Act II Scene 5: Odcházejí spolu k radosti! (They are leaving together to have fun!) (Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    19. Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Dobře! Výborně! (Fine! Wonderful!) (Mumlal, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adam Plachetka, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    20. Act II Scene 6: Piseň (Song): Nechť cokoliv mne zlobí v světě (When anything at all bothers me) (Mumlal)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adam Plachetka

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    21. Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Milování hodný příteli (My beloved, worthy friend) (Anežka, Mumlal)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kateřina Kněžíková, Adam Plachetka

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    22. Act II Scene 7: Co to, holka (What's this, girl?) (Toník, Lidunka, Mumlal)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Petr Nekoranec, Jana Sibera, Adam Plachetka

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    23. Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Zabruč, Mumlale, jim medvědem (Mumlal, go and grumble like a bear) (Karolina, Mumlal, Ladislav)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adriana Kučerová, Adam Plachetka, Pavol Breslik

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    24. Act II Scene 9: Ha! Jaké to, ach, překvapení! (Ah, what a surprise) (Anežka, Ladislav, Karolina, Mumlal)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Kateřina Kněžíková, Pavol Breslik, Adriana Kučerová, Adam Plachetka

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    25. Act II Scene 9: Recitative: Milostivá! (Gracious lady) (Ladislav, Karolina, Anežka)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pavol Breslik, Adriana Kučerová, Kateřina Kněžíková

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    26. Act II: Finale: Musí nás mít Pán Bůh rád (The Lord God must love us) (Chorus, Karolina)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Adriana Kučerová

      Conductor: Robert Jindra

    27. Act II: Finale: Polka - Musí nás mít Pán Bůh rád (The Lord God must love us) (Chorus)

      Composer: Bedřich Smetana

      Ensemble: Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Robert Jindra


Considered a lesser-known gem of the operatic repertoire, Smetana's Dve vdovy ('The Two Widows') is set in a Bohemian country estate in which the contrasting personalities of recently widowed cousins Karolina and Anezka are tested by the attentions of gentleman-farmer Ladislav. Smetana's expert theatrical craftsmanship seamlessly blends Czech dances and choruses with beautiful cavatina-like solos. With the humane warmth of it's chamber-like comedy and deftly transparent orchestration, Smetana created a style of conversational opera in The Two Widows that was much admired by Richard Strauss.