Beschrijving
Opera Road Trip – Czech Opera | From Mozart's Prague to Janáček
Why is Czech opera considered one of Europe's richest musical traditions? Why did Prague become Mozart's favourite operatic city? And how did Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček shape the operatic repertoire we know today?
In this episode of Opera Road Trip, host Sebastian F. Schwarz explores more than four centuries of Czech opera—from the arrival of Italian opera in seventeenth-century Prague to the vibrant opera houses and festivals of today's Czech Republic.
Joining the conversation are Jiří Heřman, Artistic Director of the opera of the National Theatre Brno and the Janáček Brno Festival, and internationally acclaimed stage director Barbora Horáková Joly. Together they discuss Czech opera from artistic, institutional and international perspectives, exploring repertoire, audiences, artistic identity, leadership, funding and the future of opera in one of Europe's most remarkable operatic landscapes.
The episode also features music by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček, including recordings kindly made available by the London Symphony Orchestra, Teatro Real Madrid and the National Theatre Brno.
Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz, Casting Director of Milan's Teatro alla Scala. Previously, he served as CEO, Artistic Director or Artistic Administrator at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburg State Opera and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-President of the International Richard Strauss Society, a board member of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.Opera Europa's free streaming platform supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
All episodes: https://operavision.eu/features/opera-road-trip
Music extracts for this episode:
Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72
Excerpts from Kat’a Kabanova (Leoš Janáček): Magdalena Kožená, Ladislav Elgr, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle
Excerpt from the “School Cantata” from Jakobin (Antonín Dvořák):
Petr Levíček, National Theatre Brno Janáček Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Brno Children's Choir, Jakub Klecker
Excerpts from the Ouverture of Prodaná Nevěsta (Bedřich Smetana): Teatro Real Orchestra, Gustavo Gimeno
Bonus Music:
Excerpt from an Aria of Mařenka from Prodaná Nevěsta (Bedřich Smetana): Natalia Tanasii, Teatro Real Orchestra, Gustavo Gimeno
London Symphony Orchestra:
https://lsolive.lso.co.uk/products/lso0889-janacek?_pos=1&_psq=katya&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.
Managed by Opera Europa, OperaVision is a freeview streaming platform supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe funding programme. Between 2025 and 2028, Creative Europe’s support will help Opera Europa to promote and train emerging artists working in opera and dance. Known as Opera Europa Next Generation, this initiative will give visibility and development opportunities to over 560 emerging artists – in person and online, including via OperaVision – and all thanks to the efforts of a consortium of 44 opera houses and talent development organisations from 17 European countries.
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