SMETANA, B.: Dvĕ vdovy (The Two Widows) [Opera] (K.. - 8.660609-10 | Discover more releases from Naxos

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SMETANA, B.: Dvĕ vdovy (The Two Widows) [Opera] (Kučerová, Kněžíková, Breslik, Plachetka, Sibera, Nekoranec, Prague Radio Symphony, Jindra)

Composer(s):

Lyricist(s):

Conductor(s):

Orchestra(s):

Choir(s):

Artist(s): ; ; ; ; ;

Label: Naxos

Series: Opera Classics

Genre: Opera

Period: Romantic

Catalogue No: 8.660609-10

Barcode: 730099060974

Release Date: 02/2026

SMETANA, B.: Dvĕ vdovy (The Two Widows) [Opera] (Kučerová, Kněžíková, Breslik, Plachetka, Sibera, Nekoranec, Prague Radio Symphony, Jindra)

Considered a lesser-known gem of the operatic repertoire, Smetana’s Dvě vdovy (‘The Two Widows’) is set in a Bohemian country estate in which the contrasting personalities of recently widowed cousins Karolína and Anežka are tested by the attentions of gentleman-farmer Ladislav. Smetana’s expert theatrical craftsmanship seamlessly blends Czech dances and choruses with beautiful cavatina-like solos. With the humane warmth of its chamber-like comedy and deftly transparent orchestration, Smetana created a style of conversational opera in The Two Widows that was much admired by Richard Strauss.

Tracklist

Artist details

Disc 1

Smetana, Bedřich
Züngel, Emanuel František - Lyricist

Dvĕ vdovy (The Two Widows) (1877 version)

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Prague National Theatre Chorus (Choir)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Sibera, Jana (soprano)
Nekoranec, Petr (tenor)

1

Overture

06:53

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

2

Act I Scene 1: Jitro krásné nebe jasné kyne nám (A lovely morning, clear skies greet us) (Chorus, Karolina)

04:45

Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Prague National Theatre Chorus (Choir)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

3

Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Dobré jitro, drahá sestřenice! (Good morning, dear cousin!) (Anežka, Karolína)

01:09

Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

4

Act I Scene 2: Samostatně vládnu já (I rule independently) (Karolína)

04:28

Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

5

Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Nuže, co mám tedy činit as? (Well then, what would you have me do?) (Anežka, Karolína)

00:58

Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

6

Act I Scene 3: Dobré jitro, milostivá paní! (Good morning, gracious lady!) (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)

08:37

Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

7

Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Jedinou to jeho ctností (His only redeeming grace is…) - Scene 4: Přivede-li jej, co pak? (If he brings him here now, what then?) (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)

02:52

Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

8

Act I Scene 5: Dlouho-li zde budu bloudit (Will I wander here long) (Ladislav, Mumlal)

04:58

Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

9

Act I Scene 6: Recitative: V pořádku vše, milostpaní! (Everything is in order, gracious lady!) (Mumlal, Karolína, Anežka)

01:46

Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

10

Act I Scene 7: Vězeň přede dveřmi tam! (The prisoner is at the door!) (Mumlal, Karolina, Ladislav, Anežka)

17:54

Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

11

Act I Finale: Mumlale, hle, tu vás máme (Look, Mumlal, we've got you here) (Chorus, Mumlal, Lidunka, Toník, Ladislav, Karolína, Anežka)

04:59

Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Sibera, Jana (soprano)
Nekoranec, Petr (tenor)
Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague National Theatre Chorus (Choir)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

Disc 2

1

Act II: Prelude

02:49

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

2

Act II Scene 1: Piseň (Song): Když zavítá máj (When May comes calling) (Ladislav)

02:41

Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

3

Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Nechati zde muže toho (Fine idea keeping that man here) (Anežka, Karolina, Mumlal)

02:38

Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

4

Act II Scene 2: Není pochybnosti více (There is no more doubt) (Karolina, Anežka)

08:06

Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

5

Act II Scene 3: Báseň! - Recitative: Dlouho-li pak chcete prchati (A poem! - Do you want to keep fleeing from me) (Anežka, Ladislav)

14:03

Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

6

Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Stůjte, pane! Jakže? (Halt, sir! What?) (Karolina, Anežka, Ladislav)

02:47

Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

7

Act II Scene 5: Odcházejí spolu k radosti! (They are leaving together to have fun!) (Anežka)

08:55

Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

8

Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Dobře! Výborně! (Fine! Wonderful!) (Mumlal, Anežka)

01:28

Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

9

Act II Scene 6: Piseň (Song): Nechť cokoliv mne zlobí v světě (When anything at all bothers me) (Mumlal)

03:40

Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

10

Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Milování hodný příteli (My beloved, worthy friend) (Anežka, Mumlal)

00:45

Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

11

Act II Scene 7: Co to, holka (What's this, girl?) (Toník, Lidunka, Mumlal)

04:07

Nekoranec, Petr (tenor)
Sibera, Jana (soprano)
Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

12

Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Zabruč, Mumlale, jim medvědem (Mumlal, go and grumble like a bear) (Karolina, Mumlal, Ladislav)

05:11

Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

13

Act II Scene 9: Ha! Jaké to, ach, překvapení! (Ah, what a surprise) (Anežka, Ladislav, Karolina, Mumlal)

05:10

Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Plachetka, Adam (bass-baritone)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

14

Act II Scene 9: Recitative: Milostivá! (Gracious lady) (Ladislav, Karolina, Anežka)

05:44

Breslik, Pavol (tenor)
Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Kněžíková, Kateřina (soprano)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

15

Act II: Finale: Musí nás mít Pán Bůh rád (The Lord God must love us) (Chorus, Karolina)

02:10

Kučerová, Adriana (soprano)
Prague National Theatre Chorus (Choir)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

16

Act II: Finale: Polka - Musí nás mít Pán Bůh rád (The Lord God must love us) (Chorus)

03:56

Prague National Theatre Chorus (Choir)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Jindra, Robert (Conductor)

Total Playing Time: 02:13:29