Dvorak: Saint Ludmilla

[EdgeleyRob]

I have to admit that I'd never even heard of this work until yesterday.
The Halle are doing it next Saturday and I'm thinking of taking a punt,well it's something off the beaten track.
The only other big Dvorak choral piece I've ever heard is the Stabat Mater (Bridgewater Hall a few years ago).
Anyone know Saint Ludmilla,looks like an epic

[richardfinegold]

Never heard of it.
There is also a Dvorak Requiem. Is this the same work?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Never heard of it.
There is also a Dvorak Requiem. Is this the same work?

No

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Ludmila_(oratorio)

... I've never heard it, but there are excerpts on youTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MThKGlVNjc8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK6MDmQ_8Tk

... sounds decent enough from these - and written for Leeds, too! (The Wiki article seems to suggest that it wasn't performed there, but in Prague some 15 years after it was written; this seems peculiar.)

You've gotta go, Edgey - it's exactly the sort of thing we're always saying should be done at a certain Season of concerts that takes place each Summer in the Capital, and you'll have heard it Live! How can you not? (I'm watching the world come to an end in Leeds, so can't get there.) Go on! You know you want to - then tell us all about it.

[teamsaint]

as Ferney says, sounds a great opportunity.
there are a couple ( which is about all there seem to be in total) of recordings in the Naxos library, ER.

[Cockney Sparrow]

as Ferney says, sounds a great opportunity.
there are a couple ( which is about all there seem to be in total) of recordings in the Naxos library, ER.

(details of the Orfeo recording in the Naxos Music Library thread #21 - has a PDF booklet - ER I sent you a PM about it)

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?7506-Online-Naxos-music-library&p=553507&highlight=Naxos+Music+Library#post553507

[rauschwerk]

(The Wiki article seems to suggest that it wasn't performed there, but in Prague some 15 years after it was written; this seems peculiar.)

It certainly was performed in Leeds - Dvorak conducted the premiere on Oct 15, 1886.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It certainly was performed in Leeds - Dvorak conducted the premiere on Oct 15, 1886.

- so nice that the town on the other side of the Pennines is catching up at last.

[EdgeleyRob]

Yes I'll give it a go.

As Rauschwerk says it was premiered in Leeds under Dvorak himself.

From the Programme for the Halle Dvorak Festival

It's being performed in a revised English translation by David Pountney.
It's Dvorak's longest non-operatic composition.
There is mention of part of the work perhaps influencing the 1st part of Elgar's DoG.
It was programmed in Manchester by the Halle 6 weeks after the Leeds premiere.
Apparently the Leeds Festival committee wanted a sacred cantata lasting about an hour and a half and suggested Samson and Delilah as a subject.
Dvorak replied that he wanted to compose a more substantial piece and the committee were horrified that he wanted to base his oratorio on an episode from Bohemian history.
Dvorak,writing home,said "Saint Ludmilla made a tremendous impression....performed by choir and orchestra such as I have never heard in England before...storms of applause after each of the 3 parts....members of the audience moved to tears at times..."

[umslopogaas]

I have a 1965 Supraphon recording of this work. It runs to six LP sides, about two hours. This version is by the Czech PO and Chorus, cond. Vaclav Smetacek. It isnt mentioned in either The 2010 Penguin Guide or the Rough Guide to Opera and is presumably no longer available.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have a 1965 Supraphon recording of this work. It runs to six LP sides, about two hours. This version is by the Czech PO and Chorus, cond. Vaclav Smetacek. It isnt mentioned in either The 2010 Penguin Guide or the Rough Guide to Opera and is presumably no longer available.

Certainly not cheaply:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Saint-Ludmila-Dvorak/dp/B0000035AP

[umslopogaas]

Thanks fhg. Seems it did make it to CD. Forty quid for a two CD secondhand set isnt cheap, but not outrageous for a hard-to-find set.

[Andrew Slater]

Box set here is cheaper.

I have a ticket and was wondering whether it was worth the trek to Manchester for the very early (6pm) start. Having listened to the you tube clips, it's probably worth it, so thanks for the links, Ferney

Mark Elder has something to say about it here.

[teamsaint]

That box can be had for about £22 on amazon market place.

[EdgeleyRob]

Well I've listened to the thing,Belohlavek via Naxos library.

It's excellent stuff,lots of reminders of the later Symphonies and Slavonic Dances at times in the Orchestral writing.
Some gorgeous stuff for the soloists,the Soprano Aria 'I Beg Thee' and duets Soprano/Tenor 'Anoint our foreheads with the holy water' and Soprano/Mezzo 'Pray tell me now what do you seek' stand out.

Belohlavek takes 1 hour 53 mins,I notice the Orfeo recording lasts 2 hours 23 mins whereas the Halle performance to come is estimated at 2 hours.

Can't wait now,should be good live although it will obviously sound a lot different in English

[Stunsworth]

Available to stream or download from Qobuz. The download is £12...

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/dvorak-svata-ludmila-jiri-belohlavek/8594029810785