This is an old revision of this page, as edited by In ictu oculi (talk | contribs) at 11:58, 11 January 2025 (←Created page with '{{italic}}'''''In the Well''''' is an 1867 Czech-language comic opera by Vilém Blodek to a libretto by Karel Sabina, author of The Bartered Bride,<ref> John Tyrrell ·Czech Opera - 1988 Page 326 </ref> ==Plot== Following a folk tradition that a girl looking in the village well on Midsummer Eve will see the face of her true bridegroom reflected, Lidunka hopes to see the face of her beloved Vojtech, and not old Janek the wealthy preference of her mo...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 11:58, 11 January 2025 by In ictu oculi (talk | contribs) (←Created page with '{{italic}}'''''In the Well''''' is an 1867 Czech-language comic opera by Vilém Blodek to a libretto by Karel Sabina, author of The Bartered Bride,<ref> John Tyrrell ·Czech Opera - 1988 Page 326 </ref> ==Plot== Following a folk tradition that a girl looking in the village well on Midsummer Eve will see the face of her true bridegroom reflected, Lidunka hopes to see the face of her beloved Vojtech, and not old Janek the wealthy preference of her mo...')(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)In the Well is an 1867 Czech-language comic opera by Vilém Blodek to a libretto by Karel Sabina, author of The Bartered Bride,
Plot
Following a folk tradition that a girl looking in the village well on Midsummer Eve will see the face of her true bridegroom reflected, Lidunka hopes to see the face of her beloved Vojtech, and not old Janek the wealthy preference of her mother, and consults the village sorceress, Veruna. Both suitors climb a tree to ensure that she sees their reflection, but Janek falls in the well just before she arrives, and his face comes out of the water. Eventually all is resolved and Lidunka marries Vojtech.
Music
John Warrack, reviewing the Stych version in Gramophone, commented "The music is agreeable and well made, and the work could certainly qualify for a ‘What next?’ suggestion attached to The bartered bride. However, it is by some way less tuneful, and some of it – for instance, a very attractive moonlight interlude – seems closer to the world of early nineteenth-century German opera than to anything specifically Czech."
Recordings
- Milada Šubrtová, Štěpánka Štěpánová, Ivo Žídek, and Zdeněk Kroupa. The chorus and orchestra of the Prague National Theatre were conducted by František Škvor 1959 Stereo ADD Supraphon 1962
- Karel Berman, Vojtech Kocián, Libuse Márová, Daniela Sounová-Brouková, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Kühn Chorus, Kühn Children's Chorus, Jan Stych Supraphon Original booklet includes libretto and translations.
References
- John Tyrrell ·Czech Opera - 1988 Page 326
- May 1996 https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/blodek-in-the-well