The Brandenburgers in Bohemia

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Work data
Title: The Brandenburgers in Bohemia
Original title: Braniboři v Čechách
Shape: Opera
Original language: Czech
Music: Bedrich Smetana
Libretto : Karel Sabina
Premiere: January 5, 1866
Place of premiere: České Prozatímní Divadlo
Playing time: 2 ½ hours
people
  • Wolfram Obramovič, Mayor of Prague ( bass )
  • Ludiše, his daughter, ( soprano )
  • Vlěnca, his daughter (soprano)
  • Děčana, his daughter ( old )
  • Junoš, Prague citizen ( tenor )
  • Jan Tausendmark, Traitor ( baritone )
  • Jíra, Beggar King (tenor)
  • Varnemann, Brandenburg leader (tenor)
  • Old man (bass)
  • Soldiers, citizens
  • Knights, ladies

The Brandenburger in Bohemia ( Braniboři v Čechách in Czech ) is an opera in 3 acts by Bedřich Smetana . The text was written by Karel Sabina based on a historical novel by Josef Kajetán Tyl .

Smetana wrote the opera in 1862 and 1863. The first performance took place on January 5, 1866 at the České Prozatímní Divadlo (Interim Theater Prague). With this work, the composer won a competition for the first national opera. After a great success at the beginning, the work could not hold on to the stage. Today the opera is played now and then.

The opera is set in Prague around 1279 and is about the Brandenburg conquest of Prague.

Historical background

The Brandenburgers in Bohemia - Particell

In 1278 the Bohemian King Ottokar II Přemysl was killed in a battle with Rudolf von Habsburg . His widow, Kunigunde von Halitsch , then took the nephew of Ottokar's brother-in-law Otto III. , Margrave Otto IV of Brandenburg , to help. Otto IV came with a large army and so Rudolf von Habsburg withdrew from Bohemia. The Brandenburgers acted as if they were victorious in enemy territory, they locked Kunigunde and her seven-year-old son in Velký Bezděz (Bösig) castle and Rudolf von Habsburg signed a contract with the Brandenburgers, who thus became rulers in Bohemia for five years . In addition, there was a famine in Bohemia at that time.

action

first act

First picture

After a very short overture, the first picture begins on the estate of the Mayor of Prague, Wolfram Olbramovič. He consults with his guests on what to do against the Brandenburgers. The majority of those present want to attack them, but the mayor advocates a peaceful solution. Suddenly the young Junoš comes and informs the people of the looting. After the citizens' departure, the mayor's daughter, Ludiše, refuses an offer from the German citizen, one thousand marks. Thereupon this joins the pillaging Brandenburgers staying in the area.

Second picture

The second picture takes place in a large square in the capital. The angry people choose the serf Jirka as their commander. The citizen thousand marks arrives with Ludiše and the troops. Jirka wants to save the girl from the violence of a thousand marks. The mayor prevents a fight at the last moment. One thousand marks accuses Jirka of robbing Ludiše. The mayor has Jirka locked up.

Second act

First picture

In a village near Prague, hungry farmers flee from the looters in the forest. There they say a prayer and ask God for deliverance. A messenger from the city reports that the reign of terror will be over in three days. A farmer is sent to Prague to get the mayor to pay a large ransom for his daughters.

Second picture

Jirka is convicted in court of kidnapping and is to be executed. The mayor orders one thousand marks to have his children released.

Third picture

In the garden of a farmhouse, the mayor's three daughters are hoping for a message when Junoš appears. The audience learns that this is actually Ludiše's lover. After a duet between the two of them, the guard Wareman threatens that he will sell the three if no ransom arrives.

Third act

One thousand marks comes from town instead of a herald, pays the ransom and wants to leave Bohemia together with Ludiše. Warneman detests the citizen and Thousandmark's plan falls through. Jirka has since been taken out of prison by Junoš and is gathering the people to free the three prisoners. They also arrested thousand marks.

literature

Web links

Commons : The Brandenburgers in Bohemia  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files