The Two Widows
Encyclopedia
The Two Widows is a two-act Czech opera by Bedřich Smetana
based on the libretto of Emanuel Züngel. The libretto is based on Jean Pierre Felicien Mallefille
's one-act play "Les deux veuves." The opera was composed between June 1873 and January 1874, with its first première on March 27th, 1874 at the Prague Czech Theatre under the direction of Smetana. However, this premiere was not successful and the opera was rewritten in 1874. The dialogues were replaced by recitative and some of the music and characters were reworked. The second premiere on October 20th, 1874 was very successful. Kurt Honolka provided a German version in 1958.
Bedrich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...
based on the libretto of Emanuel Züngel. The libretto is based on Jean Pierre Felicien Mallefille
Jean Pierre Félicien Mallefille
Jean Pierre Félicien Mallefille was a French novelist and playwright.Mallefille was born in Mauritius. He wrote a number of plays, including Glenarvon , Les sept enfants de Lara , Le cœur et la dot , and Les sceptiques , as well as two comedies, and two novels, Le collier and La confession du...
's one-act play "Les deux veuves." The opera was composed between June 1873 and January 1874, with its first première on March 27th, 1874 at the Prague Czech Theatre under the direction of Smetana. However, this premiere was not successful and the opera was rewritten in 1874. The dialogues were replaced by recitative and some of the music and characters were reworked. The second premiere on October 20th, 1874 was very successful. Kurt Honolka provided a German version in 1958.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, March 27, 1874 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Caroline, a young widow | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
|
| Agnes, her sister, also a young widow | soprano | |
| Ladislaus, a landowner | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
|
| Mumlal | bass | |
| Tomík, a gardener | tenor | |
| Lidka, his fiancée, a chamber girl | soprano | |
| Peasants, choir | ||
Act 1
At the castle, the people are celebrating. The two widows, Caroline and Agnes, who live there are very different. The landlady, Caroline, is happy about her liberty and independence, while Agnes cannot make friends since she is still in mourning. Caroline is pressed by her suitor, Ladislaus. However, she does not want to marry him. So Caroline conspires to have Agnes fall in love with Ladislaus. Caroline invites Ladislaus to the castle, where he is arrested by Mumlal. Ladislaus is condemned to one day house arrest in the castle. Ladislaus accepts the punishment. However, Agnes cannot be made interested in him. At the end of the act, Lidka and Tomík with the choir sing about love.Act 2
While in prison, Ladislaus sings a love song, which awakens in Agnes the feeling of love. However, Agnes cannot confess to her feelings. Even Caroline's scheme and Ladislaus's confession does not change her feelings. Only as Caroline begins to flirt with Ladislaus, that Agnes admits her feelings to Ladislaus. The envious Mumlal cannot divert Lidka and Tomík from making love to each other. At the ball, both of them get married.Recordings
- 1956, Jaroslav Krombholc (conductor), Prague National Theatre Orchestra and ChorusNational Theatre (Prague)The National Theatre in Prague is known as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and maintained by the most distinguished...
; Drahomíra Tikalová, Ivo ŽídekIvo ŽídekIvo Žídek was a celebrated Czech lyric tenor, known for his vivid portrayals of character roles in the operas of Smetana, Dvorák and Janáček.-Early life:...
, Maria TauberováMaria TauberováMaria Tauberová was a Czech opera singer who had an active international career from the 1930s through the 1970s. A lyric coloratura soprano with an excellent technique, she possessed a warm bright voice that was even in all registers. She was particularly admired for her portrayal of Mozart...
, Miloslava Fidlerová, Antonín Zlesák, Eduard HakenEduard HakenEduard Haken was a Czech operatic bass who had a lengthy career at the National Theatre in Prague during the 20th century. Although he mostly performed within his own nation, Haken did appear at a number of important international music festivals and opera houses in Europe while traveling with the... - 1974, Jaroslav Krombholc (conductor), Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Prague Radio; Jana JonášováJana JonášováJana Jonášová is a Czech opera singer. One of the most important Czech coloratura sopranos of her generation, she has had an active international career at the world's major opera houses and concert stages for roughly four decades. As an opera singer she performed a varied repertoire from a...
, Marcela Machotková, Miroslav Švejda, Dalibor Jedlička, Alfred Hampel, Daniela Šounová-Brouková - 1975, František JílekFrantišek JílekFrantišek Jílek was a Czech conductor, known especially for his interpretation of Leoš Janáček's works.- Life :...
(conductor), Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra; Naďa Šormová, Marcela Machotková, Jiří Zahradníček, Jaroslav Horáček, Zdeněk Švehla, Daniela Šounová