A Look-back on the March Edition of the Smetana Opera Cycle 2024

The National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in Ostrava is the only opera house in the Czech Republic and world that has achieved to stage own productions of all 8 completed operas by Bedřich Smetana. The March edition of the cycle was held from 2 to 10 March 2024 and opened by The Brandenburgers in Bohemia on the composer's 200th birthday.

Officially launched...

The March edition of the cycle was officially launched on Saturday, 2 March 2024 – the date of the musician's 200th birthday – and it began with The Brandenburgers in Bohemia. Minister of Culture Martin Baxa along with Intendant of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre Jiří Nekvasil, and Mayor of Ostrava Jan Dohnal ceremoniously launched the publication Bedřich Smetana & OPERA. The first single collection of libretti from all eight completed operas by Bedřich smetana. Besides the texts of libretti, there are also brief introductions the operas and short resumes of all librettists. The book was published by the theatre thanks to the financial support by the Statutory City of Ostrava and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The book is available in the box office of the theatre or online at the theatre's.e-shop.


		photo by Adolf Horsinka

The operas were performed in order in which they were composed: The Brandenburgers in Bohemia were followed by The Bartered Bride, Dalibor, The Two Widows, The Kiss, The Secret, and The Devil's Wall. The first edition of the Smetana Opera Cycle 2024 ended on the 10 March 2024 with a capacity crowd attending the concert rendition of Libuše. Soloists were accompanied by the Prague Philharmonic Choir and the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, led by conductor Robert Jindra. The gala evening was opened by Intendant Jiří Nekvasil and Jan Žemla, the director of the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava.