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Special offer. Smetana: The Two Widows

Adriana Kučerová (Karolina), Kateřina Kněžíková (Anežka), Adam Plachetka (Mumlal), Pavol Breslik (Ladislaw), Jana Sibera (Lidunka), Petr Nekoranec (Toník) Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Robert Jindra

Smetana: The Two Widows
This new recording from Prague showcases all the opera's strengths, with the conductor Robert Jindra drawing fleet and stylish playing from the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra...the high level...

BBC Music Magazine, March 20265 out of 5 stars

More reviews

Special offer. Smetana: The Two Widows

Adriana Kučerová (Karolina), Kateřina Kněžíková (Anežka), Adam Plachetka (Mumlal), Pavol Breslik (Ladislaw), Jana Sibera (Lidunka), Petr Nekoranec (Toník) Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Robert Jindra

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2 CDs

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This new recording from Prague showcases all the opera's strengths, with the conductor Robert Jindra drawing fleet and stylish playing from the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra...the high level...

BBC Music Magazine, March 20265 out of 5 stars

More reviews

About

Considered a lesser-known gem of the operatic repertoire, Smetana’s Dvě vdovy (‘The Two Widows’) is set in a Bohemian country estate in which the contrasting personalities of recently widowed cousins Karolína and Anežka are tested by the attentions of gentleman-farmer Ladislav. Smetana’s expert theatrical craftsmanship seamlessly blends Czech dances and choruses with beautiful cavatina-like solos. With the humane warmth of its chamber-like comedy and deftly transparent orchestration, Smetana created a style of conversational opera in The Two Widows that was much admired by Richard Strauss.

  • Release date: 13th Feb 2026
  • Label: Naxos
  • Catalogue number: 8660609-10
  • Length: 2 hours 13 minutes

Contents and tracklist

Smetana: Dvě vdovy, JB 1
Work length2:13:20
108: Overture
Track length6:52
108, Act I Scene 1: Jitro krásné nebe jasné kyne nám (Young Peasants, Karolína)
Track length4:44
108, Act I Scene 2: Recitative. Dobré jitro, drahá sestřenice! (Anežka, Karolína)
Track length1:09
108, Act I Scene 2: Samostatně vládnu já (Karolína)
Track length4:28
108, Act I Scene 2: Recitative. Nuže, co mám tedy činit as? (Anežka, Karolína)
Track length0:58
108, Act I Scene 3: Dobré jitro, milostivá paní! (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)
Track length8:36
108, Act I Scene 3: Recitative. Jedinou to jeho ctností (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka) - Scene 4: Recitative. Přivede-li jej, co pak? (Anežka, Karolína)
Track length2:52
108, Act I Scene 5: Dlouho-li zde budu bloudit (Ladislav, Mumlal)
Track length4:58
108, Act I Scene 6: Recitative. V pořádku vše, milostpaní! (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)
Track length1:46
108, Act I Scene 7: Vězeň přede dveřmi tam! (Mumlal, Karolína, Ladislav, Anežka)
Track length17:53
108, Act I: Finale. Mumlale, hle, tu vás máme (Chorus, Mumlal, Boys and Girls, Lidunka, Toník, Ladislav, Karolína, Anežka)
Track length4:59
108, Act II: Prelude
Track length2:49
108, Act II Scene 1: Song. Když zavítá máj (Ladislav)
Track length2:41
108, Act II Scene 1: Recitative. Nechati zde muže toho (Anežka, Karolína, Mumlal)
Track length2:38
108, Act II Scene 2: Není pochybnosti vice (Karolína, Anežka)
Track length8:06
108, Act II Scene 3: Báseň! - Recitative. Dlouho-li pak chcete prchati (Anežka, Ladislav)
Track length14:03
108, Act II Scene 4: Recitative. Stůjte, pane! Jakže? (Karolína, Anežka, Ladislav)
Track length2:47
108, Act II Scene 5: Odcházejí spolu k radosti! (Anežka)
Track length8:55
108, Act II Scene 6: Recitative. Dobře! Výborně! (Mumlal, Anežka)
Track length1:27
108, Act II Scene 6: Song. Nechť cokoliv mne zlobí v světě (Mumlal)
Track length3:40
108, Act II Scene 6: Recitative. Milování hodný příteli (Anežka, Mumlal)
Track length0:44
108, Act II Scene 7: Co to, holka (Toník, Lidunka, Mumlal)
Track length4:06
108, Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Zabruč, Mumlale, jim medvědem (Karolína, Mumlal, Ladislav)
Track length5:10
108, Act II Scene 9: Ha! Jaké to, ach, překvapení! (Anežka, Ladislav, Karolína, Mumlal)
Track length5:10
108, Act II Scene 9: Recitative. Milostivá! - Finale: Recitative. Oznamuji slušně medvědem (Ladislav, Karolína, Anežka, Mumlal)
Track length5:44
108, Act II: Finale. Musí nás mít Pán Bůh rád (Chorus, Karolína)
Track length2:10
108, Act II: Finale. Polka. Moderato - Musí nás mít Pán Bůh rád (Chorus)
Track length3:55

Awards and reviews

March 2026

This new recording from Prague showcases all the opera's strengths, with the conductor Robert Jindra drawing fleet and stylish playing from the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra...the high level of casting [presents] some of today's brightest Czech and Slovak operatic talent.
5 out of 5 stars

March 2026

a fresh, vivacious and affectionate performance of this endlessly lovable opera. Jindra begins at high voltage, and there's a current of energy a forward momentum that -never flags...this recording is a splendid (and overdue) introduction to an opera that deserves to be much more than just a Czech rarity.

May 2026

This new recording of The Two Widows is cause for rejoicing… Robert Jindra draws playing of sparkling animation from the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra… The opening chorus finds the Prague National Theatre Chorus in hearty voice.
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