Dvořák's Saint Ludmila: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Dvorak Prague Festival

About the Event

At the Dvořák Prague Festival, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra dedicates a performance to the music of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák.

The Dvořák Prague Festival is dedicating its performance of Dvořák’s oratorio Saint Ludmila to the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. The work unites Christian symbolism with patriotism, two things of fundamental importance to the composer’s spiritual world. Logically, the performance has been entrusted to the country’s leading orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic with the Prague Philharmonic Choir under the baton of Jakub Hrůša, and the solo parts will be sung by leading Czech and Slovak artists.

The world premiere of the oratorio Saint Ludmila took place in October 1886 at the music festival in Leeds, which had commissioned a work “on a Biblical theme” from Dvořák after the triumphant success of his Stabat Mater. The master accepted the commission, but he insisted on a theme from Czech history, and he got his way. The libretto, inspired by the life of one of the most important Czech saints, Saint Ludmila, was written at Dvořák’s request by a leading Czech poet, Jaroslav Vrchlický. Dvořák took exceptional pride in the oratorio Saint Ludmila, and he put his utmost effort into working on it. It was one of the composer’s largest works in terms of both its length and the size of the vocal and instrumental forces it required. It is characterised by exceptional melodic inventiveness, elaborate polyphonic writing, and beauty of sound.

Practical Information

Dress code: dark suit
Doors close: 19.45
End of concert: 23.30

Dress Code: Dark Suit

Cast / Production

Kateřina Kněžíková soprano
Alena Kropáčková mezzosoprano
Richard Samek tenor
Jozef Benci bass
Ondřej Koplík tenor
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukáš Vasilek choirmaster
Czech Philharmonic
Jakub Hrůša conductor