Libuše – Bedřich Smetana

The National Theatre

Premiere: 11th September 2005

Musical preparation and conductor: Oliver Dohnányi
Director: Petr Novotný
Stage design: Ivo Žídek
Costumes: Irena Greifová
Preparation of the Choir: Milan Malý
Chorus master: Pavel Vaněk

Libuše: Eva Urbanová
Přemysl of Stadice: Martin Bárta
Chrudoš from Otava: Luděk Vele
Šťáhlav on Radbuza: Valentin Prolat
Lutobor of Dobroslavský Chlumec: Miloslav Podskalský
Radovan of Kamen Most: Roman Janál
Krasava: Helena Kaupová / Jitka Svobodová
Radmila: Kateřina Jalovcová / Karla Bytnarová
1st andermen: Kateřina Kněžíková / Lívia Obručník Vénosová
2nd andermen: Jitka Soběhartová / Lucie Hájková
3rd andermen: Stanislava Jirků
4th andermen: Václav Lemberk
Orchestra und Choir of the National Theatre Opera.

Smetana’s Libuše, dealing with the mythical story of the fabled Czech princess who prophesies glory for the Czech nation, is inextricably linked with Czech history and that of the National Theatre, where on many occasions in the past it has been presented as a work quite extraordinary in its humanistic and social message. The title role has always been performed by the ensemble’s principal soloists. In the current production, Libuše is sung by the Czech soprano of world renown Eva Urbanová.

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

Duration of the performance: 3 hours and 30 minutes