Bedřich Smetana
Historical-romantic opera
Premiere 21. 11. 2019
Miloš Forman’s version with the new libretto by Pavel Drábek. A heroic and tragic story about rebellion against power, revenge, friendship, love and chivalry. The existence of the first (and as yet the only) professional theatre in South Bohemia was launched by the performance of the opera Dalibor on 6 September 1919. Today, 100 years later, we are opening the jubilee season with this very opera by Bedřich Smetana. It will take place in the provisory premises of the Bouda (The Hut), which is a reminder of hope for this new era. Exclusively for this festive occasion and this venue, we are preparing a production in accordance with an adaptation written by the legendary Czech director, double Oscar awardee, Miloš Forman, and accompanied by the musical production by Mario De Rose and directed by Tomáš Studený. Smetana’s third opera is based on a well-known legend about Dalibor, and was performed on stage for the first time on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the National Theatre. The opera will be staged in an area where the foundation stones for the yet to be constructed theatre building have been laid – and this is more than symbolic. Similarly, Dalibor is an as yet unrealised Miloš Forman project. Miloš Forman originally planned to put his new conception on the stage of the National Theatre on 17 November 2000. His plan also included a new libretto of the opera. However, due to the strong opposition of the then conservatives, Forman eventually abandoned the project. In terms of its musical qualities, Smetana’s Dalibor is one of the most beautiful Czech operas. It carries within it an encrypted myth of liberty, the theme of an individual rebellion, and a powerful love story. The title role of the rebelling knight is sung by the outstanding Slovak tenor Titusz Tóbisz, known to local audiences for his unforgettable portrayal of Laca in the opera Jenůfa. The new libretto was written by the theatrologist, anglicist, translator and author of several opera libretti, Pavel Drábek, currently based at the University of Hull as a professor of drama.
