Vanda (opera)

Vanda is a grand opera in five acts by Antonín Dvořák. The Czech libretto was written by Václav Beneš-Šumavský and František Zákrejs after a work by Julian Surzycki.

Provisional Theatre, site of the opera's premiere

Performance history

The opera was first performed at the Provisional Theatre in Prague on 17 April 1876. The British premiere was performed by student group University College Opera at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on 22 March 2004.[1][2]

Roles
Roles, voice types, and premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 17 April 1876[3]
Conductor: Adolf Čech
Vanda, the Polish queen soprano Marie Zofie Sittová
Božena mezzo-soprano Ema Maislerová-Saková
Homena contralto Betty Fibichová
Lumir baritone Leopold Stropnický
Roderik, a German prince baritone Josef Lev
Slavoj, a Polish knight of humble birth, in love with Vanda tenor Antonín Vávra
Velislav tenor Josef Šmaha
Všerad tenor Josef Chramosta
Vitomír tenor Ferdinand Koubek
Messenger tenor Jan Sára
Herald tenor Petr Doubravský
Pagan high priest bass Karel Čech

Synopsis

The story is about the Polish queen, Princess Wanda, who drowns herself in the Vistula river in order to save her people from the German invaders.

Recordings

References
  1. "Vanda". The Stage. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  2. "Past Productions". University College Opera. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  3. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Vanda, 17 April 1876". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).

Further reading
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