The opera Šárka could be termed a joint work of deep love and feeling. Zdenek Fibich composed it at the end of the 19th century to the libretto of Anežka Schulzová, his pupil and love of his life.

The story of Šárka loosely links up to the action of the festive opera Libuše, created by Bedrich Smetana. It depicts the outbreak of the so-called Maidens’ War following the death of the mythical Princess, when women wanted to regain the privileges they had once enjoyed under Libuše’s reign.

Šárka was premiered on 28 December 1897 on the stage of the National Theatre in Prague with Adolf Cech conducting and impressive costume designs by Mikoláš Aleš. Within the Czech Opera Treasures series, our CD presents the hitherto unreleased 1953 recording of the piece conducted by Zdenek Chalabala, who invited the legendary soprano Marie Podvalová to portray Šárka and the heroic tenor Lubomír Havlák to render the role of Ctirad.

Artists

Marie Podvalová (Šárka), Lubomír Havlák (Ctirad), Václav Bednár (Prince Premysl), Marta Krásová (Vlasta), Milada Šubrtová (Libyna), Miloslava Fidlerová (Svatava), Jaroslava Vymazalová (Mlada), Ludmila Hanzalíková (Radka), Marie Zalabáková (Hosta), Jaroslava Dobrá (Castava) & Jaroslav Veverka (Vitoraz)

Prague National Theatre Orchestra & Prague National Theatre Opera Chorus, Zdenek Chalabala