An intravenous dose of Czech patriotism: Libuše in Litomyšl

Kateřina Kněžíková (Libuše)

Jakub Hrůsa

Adam Plachetka (Přemysl)

Czech Philharmonic

By David Karlin, 17 June 2024

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“Today, the opera is more or less a national monument”

Reviewed at Festival Hall, Litomyšl on 16 June 2024

Smetana, Libuše

Jakub Hrůša, Conductor

Czech Philharmonic

Prague Philharmonic Choir

Alžběta Poláčková, Krasava

Kateřina Kněžíková, Queen Libuše

Václava Krejčí Housková, Radmilla

Jaroslav Březina, Sťáhlav

Adam Plachetka, Přemysl

Jiří Brückler, Radovan

Martin Bárta, Chrudoš

Jan Šťáva, Lutobor

Lukáš Vasilek, Choirmaster / chorus director

Eva Esterková, Soprano

Tamara Morozová, Soprano

Jarmila Vantuchová, Mezzo-soprano

Martin Šrejma, Tenor

Jetske Mijnssen's Boccanegra a coup for DNO season finale

Eleanor Knight, 4th June

Everything about this production is fresh and wonderful.

*****

Tavener's Krishna fails to convince in world premiere

Nick Boston, 4th June

John Tavener's “mystical pantomime” proves a disappointment, despite strong performances from singers and orchestra in David Pountney's production.

***11

Antonia Bembo’s Ercole amante wins hearts at the Opéra de Paris

David Karlin, 2nd June

Leonardo García-Alarcón's exhumation of Bembo's work proves a winner, in a hyper-quirky staging by Netia Jones with Julie Fuchs as the pick of the fine singers.

****1

Chasing the American Dream: UK premiere for Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up

Mark Pullinger, 1st June

Amy Lane directs an intimate staging of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s 2018 chamber opera in the compact Milton Court Theatre.

****1

Longborough Festival Opera season starts slow with Orlando

Eleanor Knight, 30th May

Beth Taylor gives the lows and highs of Handel's heroics an almighty, whole-body shakedown in Sinéad O'Neill’s new staging of Handel's Orlando.

***11

Bang! Mozart’s volcano erupts in Opera Holland Park’s Così fan tutte

Peter Quantrill, 28th May

Mount Vesuvius looms over Cecilia Stinton’s compelling new production of Così fan tutte.

****1

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David Karlin

David is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.

An intravenous dose of Czech patriotism: Smetana’s Libuše in Litomyšl