FULL Schwanda the Bagpiper aka Švanda dudák (Weinberger) Prima della prima Documentary Palermo 2014
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Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Schwanda the Bagpiper aka Švanda dudák aka Schwanda, der Dudelsackpfeifer
- Composer: Weinberger Jaromir
- Libretto: Miloš Kareš, based on the drama Strakonický dudák aneb Hody divých žen (The Bagpiper of Strakonice) by Josef Kajetán Tyl
- Venue & Opera Company: Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Italy
- Recorded: October 2014
- Type: Other
- Singers: Pavol Kubáň, Marjorie Owens, L’udovít Ludha, Anna Maria Chiuri, Alfio Marletta, Timothy Oliver, Michael Eder, Gianfranco Giordano
- Conductor: Mikhail Agrest
- Orchestra: Orchestra del Teatro Massimo
- Chorus: Coro del Teatro Massimo
- Chorus Master: Piero Monti
- Ballet: Corpo di ballo del Teatro Massimo
- Choreographer: Gaetano Posterino
Information about the Recording
- Published by: RAI
- Date Published: 2014
- Format: Broadcast
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
- Subtitles: yessubs, itsubs
- Video Recording from: RAIPlay FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Synopsis from Wikipedia
It has been a week since Švanda and Dorotka married. The robber Babinský takes refuge in their farmhouse, and immediately falls for Dorotka. Babinský quickly convinces Švanda of the tedium of married life, and persuades him to go off on an adventure. They arrive at the Queen’s court, where she is under the power of a wicked Magician. The Queen had made a deal with the Magician where she consented to the death of the Prince, her betrothed, in exchange for a heart of ice (and thus no human feeling) and a diamond scepter, symbolic of her power. Švanda plays his bagpipes, which breaks the spell. The Queen then offers herself to Švanda in marriage. Švanda accepts, kissing her, but then Dorotka appears, which angers the Queen. The Queen, her heart now again of ice, has Švanda and Dorotka imprisoned and Švanda condemned to death.
Babinský helps save Švanda by replacing the executioner’s axe with a broom. Švanda plays his bagpipes again, enchanting the crowd gathered for the execution, and escapes with Dorotka. Dorotka herself is now angry at Švanda and questions his fidelity. Švanda retorts that if he ever kissed the Queen, may he go to Hell. Forgetting that he did kiss the Queen, Švanda immediately drops through the earth into Hell. Babinský then tells Dorotka that he loves her, but she makes him promise to rescue Švanda.
In Hell, the Devil asks Švanda to play for him, since he has nothing to do, because no one will play cards with the Devil because he always cheats. Švanda at first refuses, but then Babinský appears and challenges the Devil to a card game. By cheating even more than the Devil, Babinský wins the game and rescues Švanda. (It is at this point that Švanda plays the music that forms the famous Fugue.) At the end, Švanda and Dorotka are reconciled, and Babinský sorrowfully leaves, in search of new adventures.