Armida: a love story inspired by Torquato Tasso’s Renaissance epic La Gerusalemme liberata
In Czech, surtitles in Czech and English
Jaroslav Vrchlický, still the only poet to have translated Tasso‘s gargantuan work into Czech in its entirety, based his libretto on the episode depicting the love story of Armida, the daughter of King Hydraot of Damascus, and Rinald, a knight participating in a Crusade.
Despite possessing extraordinary qualities and beauty, in comparison with other Dvořák operas Armida has always been somewhat shunned by theatre-makers. Following the world premiere in 1904, at the National Theatre in Prague, its first production was only given seven performances. The next time the opera was staged was in 1928, by Otakar Ostrčil. In 1941, Armida was undertaken by Václav Talich, with the production revived by František Škvor after World War II. It was most recently performed under the conductor František Vajnar in 1987. More than three decades later, the time has come to bring back on stage Dvořák’s brilliant work in its entirety, not just selected arias, which opera singers have gladly included in their recitals.
The production of Armida will be the first to be conducted by Robert Jindra since he assumed the post of music director of the National Theatre Opera. After nine years, the National Theatre will welcome back Jiří Heřman, whose sophisticated and visually forcible productions have made him one of the most acclaimed and most sought-after Czech opera directors of the past few decades.
Performing:
National Theatre Chorus
National Theatre Orchestra
National Theatre Opera Ballet
Important:
- Please check the current conditions for admission to concerts
- 20 min. intermission
- Suitable for audience from 12 years
- Purchased tickets cannot be returned or exchanged
- No discounts are provided
- Theatre is a cultural institution. Please respect the common principles of appropriate behaviour and clothing
- The program may be subject to change
- The price includes service fee of 3,7 € (100,- CZK)
Check other opera and ballet in Prague.