Unearthing a forgotten Czech gem

By Frank Kuznik, 12 October 2014

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Reviewed at National Theatre (Národní divadlo), Prague on 10 October 2014

Fibich, Pád Arkuna (The Fall of Arkun)

Prague State Opera

John Fiore, Conductor

Jiří Heřman, Director

Pavel Svoboda, Set Designer

Dana Burešová, Helga

Maria Kobielska, Helga

Alžběta Poláčková, Margit

Pavla Vykopalová, Margit

Szilvia Rálik, Radana

Eva Urbanová, Radana

Aleš Briscein, Jaroměr

Martin Šrejma, Jaroměr

Valentin Prolat, Rutan

Tim Ribic, Rutan

Martin Bárta, Absalon

Roman Janál, Absalon

Jiří Sulženko, Gunar

Jevhen Šokalo, Gunar

Ondrej Mráz, Dargun

David Szendiuch, Dargun

David Nykl, Dolen

František Zahradníček, Dolen

Parsifal reconsidered: A provocative improvisation in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 26th March

Timo Riihonen and Ester Pavlů stand out in a strong cast which carries Andreas Homoki's revised version of Wagner's final opera.

****1

Calixto Bieito’s Idomeneo runs out of time in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 28th September

At the Prague State Opera, Calixto Brieito relocates Mozart's opera seria to modern times, with disastrous results.

***11

Reimann's Lear makes for a dark season finale at Prague State Opera

Frank Kuznik, 7th June

Aribert Reimann's Lear takes no prisoners in a disturbing portrayal of a world gone awry, but Barbora Horáková's scattergun direction adds to the confusion.

***11

A politically charged new Manon in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 27th March

Puccini's classic takes on a harsh contemporary edge in a dark treatment by director Sláva Daubnerová at Prague's National Theatre.

****1

A rambunctious Platée revival in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 23rd November

SKUTR's daring direction and Václav Luks's early music expertise combine to bring new vitality to a Baroque classic.

*****

To the apocalypse and beyond: Le Grand Macabre in Prague

David Karlin, 14th June

Nigel Lowery’s new production at Prague State Opera is a gusher of ideas, starting as slapstick but profoundly moving by the end.

****1

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.

Fibich's Pád Arkuna: Unearthing a forgotten Czech gem