Vanda (opera)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Bohumil_Roubal%C3%ADk_Divadlo_prozat%C3%ADmn%C3%A9.jpg/220px-Bohumil_Roubal%C3%ADk_Divadlo_prozat%C3%ADmn%C3%A9.jpg)
Provisional Theatre, site of the opera's premiere
Vanda is a grand opera in five acts by Antonín Dvořák. The Czech libretto was written by Václav Beneš-Šumavský and after a work by Julian Surzycki.
Performance history[]
The opera was first performed at the Provisional Theatre in Prague on 17 April 1876. The British premiere was performed by student group University College Opera at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on 22 March 2004.[1][2]
Roles[]
Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 17 April 1876[3] Conductor: Adolf Čech |
---|---|---|
Vanda, the Polish queen | soprano | Marie Zofie Sittová |
Božena | mezzo-soprano | Ema Maislerová-Saková |
Homena | contralto | Betty Fibichová |
Lumir | baritone | Leopold Stropnický |
Roderik, a German prince | baritone | Josef Lev |
Slavoj, a Polish knight of humble birth, in love with Vanda | tenor | Antonín Vávra |
Velislav | tenor | Josef Šmaha |
Všerad | tenor | Josef Chramosta |
Vitomír | tenor | Ferdinand Koubek |
Messenger | tenor | Jan Sára |
Herald | tenor | Petr Doubravský |
Pagan high priest | bass | Karel Čech |
Synopsis[]
The story is about the Polish queen, Princess Wanda, who drowns herself in the Vistula river in order to save her people from the German invaders.
Recordings[]
- 2004: Olga Romanko (Vanda), Valentin Prolat (Slavoj), Ivan Kusnjer (Roderich), Jolana Fogašová (Božena), Oleg Korotkov (Pagan high priest), (Lumír), Yvona Skvárová (Homena); Gerd Albrecht, conductor; National Theatre (Prague)
References[]
- ^ "Vanda". The Stage. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ "Past Productions". University College Opera. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Vanda, 17 April 1876". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
Further reading[]
- Smaczny, Jan, "Vanda", in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, (ed. Stanley Sadie). London, 1992 ISBN 0-333-73432-7
External links[]
- Vanda, comprehensive details at antonin-dvorak.cz
- Vanda: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Categories:
- Operas by Antonín Dvořák
- Grand operas
- 1876 operas
- Operas
- Czech-language operas
- Operas set in Poland
- Operas set in the 8th century
- Operas based on myths and legends