The Miracles of Mary - Bohuslav Martinů

The National Theatre

Premiere: October 29, 2009

Musical preparation: Jiří Bělohlávek
Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek
Director: Jiří Heřman
Stage design: Pavel Svoboda
Costumes: Alexandra Grusková
Chorus master: Pavel Vaněk / Lukáš Vasilek
Dramaturgy: Ondřej Hučín
ChoirMaster of The Prague Phil. Children's Choir: Jiří Chvála

Appearing:

The Wise and Foolish Virgins

Archangel Gabriel: Stanislava Jirků
Foolish Virgin: Markéta Cukrová
Bridegroom: Dana Burešová, Stanislava Jirků, Jaroslav Březina, Ivan Kusnjer
Shopkeeper: Jiří Hájek
Shopkeeper: František Zahradníček
Leader of the Play: Jakub Gottwald

Mariken of Nimégue

Mariken: Maria Kobielska / Alžběta Poláčková
Devil: Martin Bárta / Svatopluk Sem
Principal: Jakub Gottwald
Girl: Markéta Cukrová
Drunkard: František Zahradníček
God: Jiří Hájek
Mother of God: Stanislava Jirků
Mascaron: Jaroslav Březina

The Nativity

Mary: Maria Kobielska / Alžběta Poláčková
Blacksmith: Ivan Kusnjer
Blacksmith’s Daughter: Stanislava Jirků
Inkeeper: Jiří Hájek
Leader of the Play: Jakub Gottwald

Sister Paskalina

Sister Paskalina: Dana Burešová
Sister Marta: Stanislava Jirků
Soprano: Maria Kobielska / Alžběta Poláčková
Alto: Markéta Cukrová
Tenor: Jaroslav Březina
Bass: František Zahradníček Leader of the Play: Jakub Gottwald

Orchestra, Choir and Ballet of the National Theatre Opera, Prague Philharmonic Choir and Kühn's Children Choir.

Bohuslav Martinů created this musico-dramatic work made up of four self-contained and contrasting parts in 1933 and 1934. Its central theme, inspired by medieval miracle plays and legends, is the benevolence and compassionateness of the Virgin Mary, and in the wider sense (and above all) womanhood – wise, foolish, sinful, vain, affectionate, self-sacrificing, munificent... In the spirit of the inter-war avant-garde, Martinů loosens up opera conventions and in an extremely free manner handles a gamut of expressive means – from solo voice, through characters formed by a group of singers, dance, spoken word, stylisation of folk theatre and poetry, to the principles of epic theatre. The work’s latest production at the National Theatre marks the 50th anniversary of Bohuslav Martinů’s death.

The opera is staged in Czech original version and English and Czech surtitles are used in the performance.

Duration of the performance: 3 hours