Czech Opera

Czech Opera examines opera in its national contexts, and is a study not only of operas written in Czech, but also of the specific circumstances which shaped them.

John Tyrrell (Author)

9780521347136, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 October 2005

372 pages
23.5 x 15.6 x 2 cm, 0.527 kg

Opera is the grandest and most potent cultural expression of the nationalist movement which led to the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918. During this period Czech opera developed into a genre of major artistic importance cultivated by composers of the stature of Smetana, Dvorák and Janácek. Czech Opera examines opera in its national contexts, and is a study not only of operas written in Czech, but also of the specific circumstances which shaped them. These include the historical and political background to the period, the theatres in which Czech plays and operas were first performed, and the composers and performers who worked in them. The role of the librettists is given particular prominence and is complemented by a detailed chapter on the subject matter of the librettos shedding light on the subject matter of the historical and mythic background of the genre.

List of illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Note on music examples
Note on terms, titles of works and currency
Map
1. Czech nationalism
2. Theatres
3. Composers
4. Librettists
5. Subjects
6. Characters
7. Folk elements and the 'Czech style'
8. Czech, metre and word-setting
Notes
Bibliography
Note on list of Czech operas
List of Czech operas mentioned in the text
Index.

Subject Areas: Opera [AVGC9]