{"id":107397,"date":"2024-09-06T06:30:41","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T10:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=107397"},"modified":"2024-09-06T14:00:03","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T18:00:03","slug":"preview-year-czech-music-opera-fest-winds-dvoraks-jakobin-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/09\/06\/preview-year-czech-music-opera-fest-winds-dvoraks-jakobin-concert\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | The Year of Czech Music Opera Fest Winds Up With Dvo\u0159\u00e1k&#8217;s Jakob\u00edn In Concert"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_107399\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-107399\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-107399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-71.jpg\" alt=\"Graphic courtesy of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-71.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-71-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-71-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-71-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-107399\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Graphic courtesy of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The final opera of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/01\/31\/interview-dr-john-holland-talks-about-the-year-of-czech-music-opera-fest-in-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Year of Czech Music Opera Fest<\/a> in Toronto will be Dvo\u0159\u00e1k&#8217;s opera Jakob\u00edn, presented in concert with a chamber orchestra on September 13. It\u2019s a rare chance for Toronto audiences to hear this work in performance.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, it\u2019s only the second time it\u2019s been performed in North America. The Czech Music Institute last performed Jakobin in Toronto at the last Year of Czech Music Festival in 2014.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vbRv2bHSVuc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>The Opera<\/h2>\n<p>For a lighthearted romantic comedy, Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s Jacobin, Op. 84, B159, B200 had a somewhat torturous history of creation. The Czech composer completed the first version on November 1888. But, when it premiered in February 1889, criticism of both the music and story led him to revise it. The second, or Prague version, was completed in 1898.<\/p>\n<p>In writing a new comic opera, Dvo\u0159\u00e1k was attempting to build on the success of the premiere of his Tvrd\u00e9 palice, an older one-act play. That premiere had taken place in October 1881, a full seven years after he\u2019d written the piece. He was hoping, at the time, to create a sense of momentum.<\/p>\n<p>Even before that, the opera took about six years to complete, in large part because of many revisions by librettist Marie \u010cervinkov\u00e1-Riegrov\u00e1. His first choice for libretttist, Josef \u0160tolb, who\u2019d worked with him on Tvrd\u00e9 palice, bowed out due to low pay. Maria had collaborated with Dvo\u0159\u00e1k previously on Dimitrij, and she agreed to the project even though she had little experience with comedies. While they wrangled over changes and several versions, the composer became worried about the potential failures of an opera with a Czech theme on international stages, adding to the delays.<\/p>\n<p>The story, while comic overall, contains a balance of elements between dramatic and comedic, lyrical and whimsical, with a patriotic theme underlying the action of the story. It\u2019s set in a Czech town during the time of the French Revolution, and the cast represents a range of classic Czech characters. For the composer, there were reminders of his youth in Zlonice, including the character of Benda, a musician who many believe was inspired by one of Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s early teachers.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s one of the most lighthearted and even idyllic operas not only among Dvo\u0159\u00e1k&#8217;s works, but Czech operas in general. Musically, he was exploring the roots of Slavic folk music in an expressive mode that can range from sorrow to joy. There is humour and warmth to the story.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, he seemed pleased with his work, and wrote, \u201cI managed that serenade so that it would not have embarrassed Mozart\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Soprano Grace Quinsey performs \u201cAch bo\u017ee, bo\u017e\u00ednku\u201d from Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s Jakob\u00edn in November 2022 with pianist Adam Weinmann:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y7awK06et7U?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>The Story &amp; Cast<\/h3>\n<p>The story features themes dealing with mistaken identity and love triangle to supply the dramatic tension, a music schoolroom setting, and a warm family reconciliation, patriotism, and the power of music to heal on the positive side.<\/p>\n<p>The music teacher\/cantor Benda lives with his daughter Terinka in a small village. Terinka is in love with a peasant and singer by the name of Ji\u0159\u00ed, but she\u2019s also being courted by Purkrabi, the village bailiff and an older man. Refugees from the French Revolution reach the village, and rumours spread that they are Jacobins, who will bring persecution to their Czech homeland. The strangers, though, are Bohu\u0161, his wife Julie, and a load of family drama.<\/p>\n<p>The opera includes several roles;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Benda, an old village music teacher \u2014 tenor <strong>Alex Cappellazzo<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Terinka, his daughter \u2014 soprano <strong>Grace Quinsey<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Ji\u0159\u00ed, a villager, and their best tenor \u2014 tenor <strong>David Walsh<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Filip, the Purkrabi, or village bailiff \u2014 bass-baritone <strong>John Holland<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Count Vil\u00e9m of Harasov \u2014 bass <strong>Dylan Wright<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Bohu\u0161, his estranged son \u2014 baritone <strong>Michael Robert-Broder<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Julie, Bohu\u0161&#8217; wife \u2014 soprano <strong>Paulina Swierczek<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Adolf of Harasov, the Count&#8217;s nephew \u2014 baritone <strong>Alasdair Campbell<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/canczechmusic.ca\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian Institute for Czech Music<\/a> was formed in 2013 to promote research and performance of Czech Music in Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find out more about the <strong>September 13<\/strong> performance Dvo\u0159\u00e1k&#8217;s Jakob\u00edn to complete the Year of Czech Music Opera Fest, co-presented by Opera by Request at Jeanne Lamon Hall [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/myevent.com\/jakobin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The final opera of the Year of Czech Music Opera Fest in Toronto will be Dvo\u0159\u00e1k&#8217;s opera Jakob\u00edn, presented in concert with a chamber orchestra on September 13.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":107399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40967,43,4557,63],"tags":[320,41018,40846,41019,41436],"yst_prominent_words":[12688,6616,30629,6886],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-71.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-rWd","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107397"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107397"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107406,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107397\/revisions\/107406"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107397"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=107397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}