Vaclav Smetacek, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Choir - Dvorak: Saint Ludmila, Op. 71 by Vaclav Smetacek (2023)

Conductor Vaclav Smetácek may not be as well known as his contemporaries Rafael Kubelik or Vaclav Neumann, but he was one of the most conspicuous influential Czech musicians of the twentieth century. Born in Brno, Smetácek was an oboe player and founded the Prague Wind Quintet in 1928 and maintained his membership in that renowned chamber group until his retirement in 1955.
Tracklist
01. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I (Courtyard of the Castle of Mělník. In the middle a large golden statue of the goddess Bába. Noble, priests and people): Tmy vrátily se v skrýše skal a lesů: The dusk departs to gloomy caves and forests
02. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Květy, jimiž Vesna vábí: Blossoms, with which Spring allures us (Chorus of People)
03. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Svaté jitro jest a svatá noc je tmavá: Holy dawn and holy night (Chorus of Priests and People)
04. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Tříhlav, který patří trojí tváří: Triglaw, thou with three-fold countenance (Chorus)
05. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Mé srdce chví se tlukem bouřným dnes: My heart is beating wildly (Soprano Recitative: Ludmila)
06. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Slyš naše písně horoucí a vroucí: Hear when we Sing our psalm with burning Passion (Chorus)
07. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Od dětství ku oltáři mne vodil svatý cit: When young it was the altar I ever held most dear (Soprano Aria: Ludmila)
08. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Vždyť bozi s námi jsou, kam bludný krok se šine: The gods are close at hand, where'er we stray and falter (Chorus)
09. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Sem rychle Vesny květ, ať sochu ověnčíme: Festoon with flowers gay the statue of great Vesna (Tenor: A Husbandman)
10. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Ký v pozadí to hluk?: What causes all that noise? (Chorus)
11. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Do prachu s vámi! Jeden jest Bůh!: Now kiss the dust, All! One God there is! (Bass Aria with Chorus: Ivan)
12. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Kdo onen muž, jejž nestih's nebe blesk?: What man is this whom lightening will not fell? (Chorus)
13. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Ó dovol abych zlíbat směla tvých nohou prach: I beg thee, only thy dusty feet my lips I would lay (Soprano Aria: Ludmila)
14. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Vstup v nitro své, mým domem není země: Upon this earth thy search would be a vain quest (Bass Recitative: Ivan)
15. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Co bude nyní: What will befall us? (Chorus)
16. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part I: Vše láme se a bortí v chaos tmavý: Now everything is crumbling, all is chaos (Chorus)
17. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II (In the woods near Beroun. In the background a hollow rock with Ivan’s hermitage): Ó, v jaké šeré lesní stíny: Oh, in the fearful forest shadows (Introduction, Recitative & Contralto Aria: Svatava)
18. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Teď ptám se tě: co najít chceš?: Pray tell me now, what do you seek? (Soprano & Contralto Duetto: Ludmila & Svatava)
19. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Já neklamal se, buď vítána, dcero!: No error made, I welcome you, daughter! (Bass Aria: Ivan)
20. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Dík, otče, já se nezklamala: Thanks, father! I felt sure, I was right (Soprano Recitative: Ludmila)
21. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Nuž tedy věz a pojmi v srdce svoje: Now also know, and keep it in remembrance (Bass Aria: Ivan)
22. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Vesele hvozdem, vesele polem: Gaily we pass through field and through forest (Soprano, Contralto & Bass Trio with Chorus: Ludmila, Svatava & Ivan)
23. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Ó jaký obraz oku mému se v stínu lesním otvírá!: Oh, what a sight there in the shadows, and one that causes me to fear! (Tenor & Chorus: Bořivoj)
24. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Já bludné duše světlu vracím: I led the lost souls out of darkness (Bass Recitative: Ivan)
25. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Ó neklamu se, chápu juž: I think, the truth I now infer (Chorus)
26. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Ach ona, po níž srdce moje prahne: Ah, it is she for whom my heart is yearning (Bass Recitative: Ivan)
27. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Ó, cestu ukaž mi, jak jí mám dobýt: Oh, show to me the way that I must win her (Tenor Aria: Bořivoj)
28. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Ó vizte, kníže náš vrhá se na kolena: Oh! Look there! See our Prince, upon his knees! (Chorus)
29. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Ó, kterak mohu zvednout k tobě zraků: How is it possible to raise my eyelids (Soprano Recitative: Ludmila)
30. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Jak z krásného snu náhle procitlý: I rudely awake from a perfect dream (Tenor & Bass Recitative: Bořivoj & Ivan)
31. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part II: Já hledala jsem září toho jitra: For this new shining dawn I am now searching (Soprano, Contralto, Tenor & Bass Quartet with Chorus: Ludmila, Svatava, Bořivoj & Ivan)
32. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part III (The Cathedral of Velehrad. Baptism of Bořivoj and Ludmila. Priests, nobles and people): Hospodine, pomiluj ny!: Mighty Lord, have mercy on us! (Introduction & Chorus)
33. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part III: Nuž přistupte, mnou víře vyučení: Come forward all to whom I've taught the new creed! (Tenor & Bass Recitative: Bořivoj & Ivan)
34. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part III: Ó, nech juž skanout nad našimi čely: Anoint our foreheads with the holy water (Soprano & Tenor Duet: Ludmila & Bořivoj)
35. Saint Ludmila, Op. 71, Part III: U cíle stojím snahy své a tužby: Here on the threshold of my aspirations (Soprano & Bass Recitative: Ludmila & Ivan)