The Jacobin
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Basic information
The National Theatre
Approximate running time3 hours 0 minutes, 1 intermission
LanguageIn Czech, Czech, English subtitles
PremiereOctober 8, 2011
Dvořák’s The Jacobin is one of the most popular and most frequently performed Czech operas. To date, the National Theatre has staged twelve productions, most recently in 1993. The story, depicting life in a small Czech town on the one hand and the return of a “suspicious” émigré to his homeland on the other, is often understood in a somewhat simplistic, hyperbolic manner. Yet it is rather borne – primarily owing to Dvořák’s musical genius – in an ambiguous atmosphere of melancholy, sentiment, humorous bird’s-eye view and self-irony.
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About
National Theatre Orchestra
National Theatre Chorus
Ballet of the National Theatre Opera
Kühn Children's Choir
As in many other similarly tuned Czech dramatic works, here too all the accumulated and pointed conflicts end up in humble, conciliatory and amicable lesson-learning. At the end of the 18th century, Bohuš, a count’s son, who at one time was hounded out by his father owing to his liberalism returns to an idealised Czech town. Yet before he is allowed to reconcile with his father, he and his wife have to experience a slew of provincial intrigues which the locals direct both at themselves and – because of his being suspected of “Jacobinism” – against Bohuš and his wife.
We encounter a number of stock and popular dramatic types – the happily amorous Jiří and Terinka, between whom the big-headed burgrave Filip wants to drive a wedge, the count’s power-hungry nephew Adolf, as well as the good-natured teacher Benda.
The scene at the school during which the teacher Benda is preparing with the children a festive cantata in honour of the new master is one of the most remarkable in Czech opera.
Photographer for production: Hana Smejkalová
Approximate running time, including intermissions: 3 hours, two 20-minute intermissions.
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