| Bedřich Smetana |
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Operas
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The Brandenburgers in Bohemia (Czech: Braniboři v Čechách) is a three-act opera, the first by Bedřich Smetana. The Czech libretto was written by Karel Sabina, and is based on events from Czech history. The work was composed in the years 1862–1863. Smetana and Sabina wrote the opera at a time of great Czech patriotism, with the pending opening of a new theatre for production of Czech operas in Prague.
The opera received its first performance at the Provisional Theater (or the "Interim Theatre"[1]), Prague, on 5 January 1866, and the first performance was a success.[2] The first UK performances were in April 1978 by Hammersmith Municipal Opera.[3]
Contents |
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 5 January 1866 (Conductor: Bedřich Smetana ) |
|---|---|---|
| Volfram Olbramovič, Lord Mayor of Prague | bass | Frantisek Hynek |
| Oldřich Rokycanský, a knight | baritone | Petr Doubravskÿ |
| Junoš, young resident of Prague | tenor | Jindrich Polák |
| Jan Tausendmark, young resident of Prague | baritone | Josef Lev |
| Varneman, captain of the Brandenburgers | tenor | Jan Luvrik Lukes |
| Jíra, a runaway serf | tenor | Arnost Grand |
| Ludiše, Volfram's daughter | soprano | Ferenczy |
| Vlčenka, Volfram's daughter | soprano | Josefina-Marie Schmidtová-Procházková |
| Děčana, Volfram's daughter | contralto | Marie Pisarovicová |
| Old villager | bass | Josef Palecek |
| Town crier | baritone | |
| Knights and soldiers, Olbramovič's men, villagers, Brandenburger soldiers, vagabonds and beggars, Judges | ||
The setting is Prague in the 13th century, during the occupation of Bohemia by forces of the Margrave of Brandenburg.
The serf Jíra is the leader of a rebel movement in Prague. He charges the Brandenburg captain, Tausendmark, with kidnapping the three daughters of the mayor, named Ludiše, Vlčenka and Děčana. Jíra is later arrested, put on trial, and condemned to death. However, Junoš, who is in love with Ludiše, manages to save Jíra. Eventually, Tausendmark and the other Brandenburgers are driven out of Prague, and the city is liberated.