Smetana's Dalibor

[Sean]

I'm listening to the Kosler recording- quite different from Bartered bride which is clearly quite a unique comic opera, Dalibor is richly scored with the orchestra often dominating in a Wagnerian way with strings plus horns sonorities and the occasional explicit Wagnerian instrumental combinations. It's very smoothly written and quite easy to listen to for such full forces even in the stirring choral slavic moments, but on fourth hearing now it doesn't really resolve into first rate material (as expected).

[val]

I think Dalibor is the best opera of Smetana, at least regarding those I have heard until now.
The monologue of Milada, introduced by the harp is sublime, just like the duo Jitka/Vitek in the 2nd act or the aria of Dalibor in prison. The dramatic finale is also splendid.

The version of Koesler is good, although I am not a great fan of the voice and style of Urbanova. The only other version I know was a version in German with Rysanek conducted by Krips.

[BachQ]

Please discuss the parallels between Dalibor and Beethoven's opera Fidelio ......


Thanks in advance .......

[Sean]

Thanks for that val: there's one or two shrill high voices but I can take to them okay, and there are certainly some good things in it; the through-composed style stands out and obviously a great deal of effort went into it. I read there are eight operas and a few hundred bars of a ninth.

And indeed there are parallels with Fidelio, with some of those diabolical Czech twists of fate.

[val]

D Minor

Please discuss the parallels between Dalibor and Beethoven's opera Fidelio ......

In Dalibor there is also a woman that disguises herself in order to try to save the prisoner. The woman is Milada, sister of the man that Dalibor killed.
Dalibor, however, is not a political prisoner. He murdered that man as a revenge for the death of his friend Zdenek. There are even some suggestions of homossexuality.

Another difference with Fidelio is that, in the end, both Milada and Dalibor die. 

[BachQ]

In Dalibor there is also a woman that disguises herself in order to try to save the prisoner. The woman is Milada, sister of the man that Dalibor killed.
Dalibor, however, is not a political prisoner. He murdered that man as a revenge for the death of his friend Zdenek. There are even some suggestions of homossexuality.

Another difference with Fidelio is that, in the end, both Milada and Dalibor die. 

Well said.  Thanks, Val.

both Milada and Dalibor die. 

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