DVORAK: Kate and the Devil - Komancova, Koci, Havlak, Prague National Theatre (2 CDs)

The success of the symphonic poems Water Sprite, Midday Witch, Golden Spinning-wheel and Pigeon, drawing on themes from folk ballads, encouraged Dvořák to seek inspiration for another opera in Czech popular fairy-tales. After historic themes and comical plots (Dimitri, The Jacobin, The Stubborn Lovers, etc.) the libretto deals with a Chod fairy-tale with all its salient features: the muddleheaded devil, the saucy Kate, who even gives Lucifer himself a piece of her mind, the shrewd shepherd Jirka, as wellas justice that in the end is accorded to ordinary people - precisely thanks to the shepherd's adroitness and the gruesome authority of Hell. Following its successful premiere (1899), the opera's warm folksy tone contributed to its rapid domestication not only at the National Theatre. The opera as conducted by Zdeněk Chalabala and performed by excellent soloists, the orchestra and chorus of the first Czech opera stage in 1955 is now being released on a CD by Supraphon for the first time. 

Disk 1
Antonín Dvořák
Kate and the Devil. Opera in 3 Acts, Op. 112
1. Overture 07:16
2. Act 1: Why so early, shepherd 08:25
3. Act 1: O me, little shepherd poor 02:13
4. Act 1: Dance (Valse) 01:39
5. Act 1: Isn't it enraging? 01:41
6. Act 1: Good evening! 04:42
7. Act 1: May I offer you a drink, please? 06:12
8. Act 1: Hurray! Jirka is here again! 00:51
9. Act 1: I've been kicked out! 02:50
10. Act 1: It is somewhat out-of-the-way 05:56

Disk 2
Antonín Dvořák
Kate and the Devil. Opera in 3 Acts, Op. 112
1. Act 2: Overture 03:55
2. Act 2: Glory to the might of gold 01:36
3. Act 2: Shall I forever listen to your larm? 03:56
4. Act 2: Who is it you, brother, carry what does it all mean? 02:44
5. Act 2: What seek you? What do you want here? 03:56
6. Act 2: Everywhere I heard but laments 03:39
7. Act 2: He might, perhaps, carry her home! 04:22
8. Act 2: Kate, get ready now! 01:31
9. Act 2: Devilish Dance /Dance of Hell/ 04:33
10. Act 2: How do you like it here in hell? 02:33
11. Act 3: Overture (Polonaise) 04:30
12. Act 3, Scene 1: Now sad the castle 05:03
13. Act 3: What can I do my gracious princess? 04:09
14. Act 3: He is here, the shepherd, Your Grace! 08:16
15. Act 3: Here I am, what is it, Jirka? 02:46
16. Act 3: Take a seat here, my dear princess 02:24
17. Act 3: Steady, princess, you go with me! 02:33
18. Act 3: I am grateful! 02:42
19. Act 3: For your gracious kindness to us 02:50