The Devil and Kate - Antonín Dvořák

Tha National Theatre

Premiere: 21th September 2003

Musical preparation: Bohumil Gregor
Conductor: Jan Chalupecký
Director: Marián Chudovský
Stage design and costumes: Adolf Born
Preparation of the Choir: Milan Malý
Chorus master: Pavel Vaněk
Choreography: Daniel Wiesner

Shepherd Jirka: Tomáš Černý / Jaroslav Březina
Kate: Lenka Šmídová / Kateřina Jalovcová
Mother: Ivana Ročková
Devil Marbuel: Luděk Vele / František Zahradníček
Lucifer: Bohuslav Maršík
Devil porter: Vratislav Kříž / František Zahradníček
Devil - guard: Oldřich Panovský / Antonín Hudi
Princess: Yvona Škvárová / Jitka Svobodová
Chamber-maid: Alžběta Poláčková
Steward: Jiří Kubík

Orchestra, Choir and Ballet of the National Theatre Opera

The theme of this charming fairy-tale opera is taken over from Božena Němcová’s folk tale of the same name about the brazen and fearless Kate, the wily shepherd Jirka and the duped devil Marbuel. Dvořák created a masterly patchwork of contrasting scenes – folksy, breezy, fiendishly fervent and courtly noble. Adolf Born’s exquisite sets and costumes bear the hallmark of this original and popular artist.

Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes

The opera is staged in Czech original version and English surtitles are used in the performance.