佳佳唱片

史麥塔納:三幕歌劇(李布謝)
塔利許 指揮
捷克愛樂管弦樂團
1939年實況錄音

A unique recording of the performance of Smetana's opera Libuse at the National Theatre on 29 May 1939, made in Nazi-occupied Prague. The Overture (recorded in 1940) and fragments of Act 3, including "Libuse's prophecy". At the end, the audience sings the Czech national anthem.

Marie Podvalova (Libuse), Stanislav Muz (Premysl), Vilém Zítek (Chrudos), Josef Vojta (Sťahlav), Ota Horakova (Krasava), Marta Krasova (Radmila), Jaroslav Veverka (Lutobor), Josef Krikava (Radovan). Chorus and Orchestra of the National Theatre in Prague, chorus master: Jan Mario Ouredník; Czech Philharmonic (Overture), conducted by Vaclav Talich

The recording of the concert performance in Nazi-occupied Prague of Bedrich Smetana's My Country (SU 4065-2) conducted by Vaclav Talich, which took place on 5 July 1939, drew considerable attention worldwide (Special Historic Gramophone Award 2012). It seemed that Talich's discography had thus been rounded off for good. Yet the personal effects of the late soprano Marie Podvalova, renowned for her outstanding portrayal of Princess Libuse, provided yet another gem. A week prior to the mentioned performance of My Country, on 29 May 1939 a recording was made at the National Theatre of Talich's account of Smetana's opera Libuse. Fragments of Act 3 have been reconstructed from the miraculously surviving foils (the present CD also contains the 1940 recording of the Overture). In 1939, Libuse's prophecy in Act 3 of Smetana's opera must have sounded to Czech ears like an immensely bold declaration of national pride and courage. Although incomplete and far from being perfect in terms of the quality of sound, the recording's value is truly immense. It is the one and only recording of an opera conducted by Talich, the oldest surviving transmission of an opera performance from the National Theatre in Prague, and the last staging of Libuse during the Nazi occupation before its performances were strictly banned. The audience's long tumultuous applause and spontaneous singing of the national anthem attest to the moment's enormous emotional gravity, imbuing the recording with exceptional energy.

Talich's unique account of Libuse - a bold manifestation of national pride and bravery in 1939 in Nazi-occupied Prague

BEDRICH SMETANA (1824–1884)
LIBUSE
An opera in 3 Acts (1881); Libretto Josef Wenzig, Ervín Spindler
1. Overture 8:41
Act 3 – The Prophecy (Libuse's chamber at Vysehrad)
Scene 1
2. Mír zjednan mezi obema zas bratry . Peace is made again between two brothers 2:40
3. O, díky tobe . O, receive our thanks 1:24
Scene 2
4. On jde! . He comes! 2:30
Scene 3
5. Buď vítana . Welcome to us 0:57
Scene 4
6. O bratre, drahy bratre . O, brother, my dear brother 2:18
Scene 5
7. Slavnostní pochod . Ceremonial procession 5:02
8. Hoj, tvrdy Vysehrad . Hail, stronghold Vysehrad 1:52
9. Snatek vas buď pozehnan! . May your wedding be blessed 8:28
10. Libuse's Prophecy . Libusino proroctví
Bohové mocní! . O gods almighty 16:26
11. Czech national anthem 3:45