ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: THE SPECTRE’S BRIDE
On the peak of his splendid career Antonín Dvořák established intensive contacts with major representatives of the British music production. In 1883 he received an offer from his English publisher Alfred Littleton to compose an extensive vocal-instrumental piece for the music festival in Birmingham. Dvořák considered originally a historical topic (St. Wenceslaus or Jan Hus), however at last he decided on a dramatic ballad by Karel Jaromír Erben from the collection Kytice (Bouquet). The demoniac original found full expression in Dvořák‘s version of the story. The cantata The Spectre’s Bride testifies the ability of the Czech author to oscillate masterfully on the brink of the fragile poetism and the excited dramatic action.
Slovak Philharmonic
Slovak Philharmonic Choir
Rastislav Štúr conductor
Jaroslav Brych choirmaster
Kateřina Kněžíková soprano
Ľudovít Ludha tenor
Adam Plachetka basbaritone
Antonín Dvořák The Spectre’s Bride, Op. 69
Concert Hall of the Slovak Philharmonic
17th January 2019 and 18th January 2019 at 7 pm
