Bedřich Smetana and the opera Libuše – Litomyšl
Fact of the Czech figure „Three Lives of Czech Myths – Prague”
Part of the „The story of the beginning” topic
Myths and Legends became a great source of inspiration for Czech artists in the 19th century, a century dominated by Romanticism, which admired the past, and the „awakening” of national consciousness, which sought its origins and traditions in national history. The desire to elevate Czech culture and create a distinctive musical style is evident in the work of the composer Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884), whose symphonic cycle Má vlast (My Fatherland) and numerous operas based on national traditions and legends made him famous.
A striking example is the opera Libuše, in which the main character is a mythical princess of the Přemyslid dynasty who predicted the glory of Prague in her prophecies. The opera was already significant at the time of its premiere – it was performed at the opening of the National Theatre in Prague (1881), an important milestone in the Czech national revival. After the establishment of Czechoslovakia (1918), the fanfare from Smetana’s opera became a traditional accompaniment to the arrival of the head of state, and today the same fanfare announces the arrival of the Czech president.
