Opera in 3 Acts (1865-7, rev.1870)
Libretto by Josef Wenzig & Ervín Špindler

Smetana’s tragic opera Dalibor from 1868 is now acknowledged as a masterpiece, containing some of his greatest music. It tells a tale of knightly ideals, chivalry, love and loyalty – the plot is similar to Fidelio, and the great set piece choruses remind the listener of Lohengrin, another opera with chivalric ideals at its core. Smetana, saddened by Dalibor’s cool reception (too Wagnerian was one of the charges against it) always had faith that one day it would be appreciated and stand alongside The Bartered Bride, the work that overshadowed all his other operas to his great frustration.

This superb performance of this rarely heard opera was recorded live in the Barbican Hall, London. Conducted by Jiři Bělohlávek, the all Czech cast and the BBC SO and BBC singers gave a performance that impressed all present, and the critics praised the performance ‘Smetana’s melodic invention is given full rein, with a rapturous second-act love duet as its high-point. Bělohlávek’s conducting was warm and wonderfully spacious in those purple passages…the cast, all Czech, was a very fine one’ "A brilliant all-Czech performance’ said The Independent. ‘The pivotal duets were gloriously sung, while chorus and orchestra honoured the full beauty of the score" (The Guardian)

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Sung in Czech; 2CD brilliant box, booklet synopsis and essay. Libretto in Czech, English, German & French available