PERFORMANCE DETAIL

Libretto by Eliška Krásnohorská (1847–1926)
Conductor Marek Šedivý
Stage director Jiří Nekvasil

"My opera will be an enigma to many a critic," Smetana wrote while working on his last completed opera, a remarkable work full of theatrical and musical imagination. It is a collage of romantic exuberance, comedy, the intimate sensibility of arias and duets, the sophistication of musical ensembles, choral scenes and dissonance, and a brevity that anticipates the music of the next 20th century. Inspired by an old tale, the libretto tells the story of a devil who pursues his own gain and prevents Mr Vok from marrying and preserving his family. Smetana imbued the story with strong autobiographical elements in his music. He describes his longing for love, hope, personal happiness and social rehabilitation, redemption and the breaking down of his own "devil's wall" - the deadly wall built around him by the curse of deafness, tormenting hallucinations and advancing madness.

Performed in Czech with Czech and English surtitles.

Revived premieres on 14 and 16 December 2023 at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre
The original production of THE DEVIL’S WALL premiered on 12 June 2014 at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre