Czech State Orchestra, Jesse Auditorium, Wednesday, March 9, 1977
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"Approximately one-hundred years ago, the control of the National Opera House in Prague was returned to sympathizers of Bedrich Smetana (2 March 1824 - 12 May 1884). The opera house had opened in 1862 but was dominated by works by Meyerbeer and Italians sung in Bohemian. This was despite efforts to develop a national opera. Smetana's second opera, The Bartered Bride (1866) was a considerable success - some 100 performances in the next ten years. The reputation gained also won for Smetana the first conductor position over Mayer who had previously been responsible for the music selected. After Smetana's next opera, Dalibor (1868), criticism arose that he was trying to "Wagnerize" the national opera. The controversy continued, causing a nervous disorder which affected Smetana'a hearing. In the spring of 1874 he resigned being secceeded by Mayer. The subsequent return, in 1875, of control of the Prague Opera House to Smetana sympathizers promoted the eventual development of a nationalistic opera."--Program notes.
Table of Contents
Overture to The Bartered Bride -- Piano Concert #3 -- Intermission -- Symphony #5 in F Major, Op. 24