ENGLISH SUMMARY ENGLISH SUMMARY

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)

ARMIDA

Armida is an by Antonín Dvořák in four acts, Armida is an opera by Antonín Dvořák in four acts, set to a by Jaroslav Vrchlický that was originally set to a libretto by Jaroslav Vrchlický that was originally based on 's epic La Gerusalemme liberata. based on Torquato Tasso's epic La Gerusalemme liberata. Dvořák's opera was first performed at Prague's National Dvořák's opera was first performed at Prague's National Theatre on 25 March 1904. Theatre on 25 March 1904.

MUSICAL PREPARATION ROBERT JINDRA MUSICAL PREPARATION ROBERT JINDRA

CONDUCTOR ROBERT JINDRA / JAN ŠRUBAŘ CONDUCTOR ROBERT JINDRA / JAN ŠRUBAŘ STAGE DRECTOR JIŘÍ NEKVASIL STAGE DRECTOR JIŘÍ NEKVASIL SETS DAVID BAZIKA SETS DAVID BAZIKA COSTUMES SIMONA RYBÁKOVÁ COSTUMES SIMONA RYBÁKOVÁ MOTION CO‐OPERATION ŠTEVO CAPKO MOTION CO‐OPERATION ŠTEVO CAPKO CHORUS MASTER JURIJ GALATENKO CHORUS MASTER JURIJ GALATENKO DRAMATURGY DANIEL JÄGER DRAMATURGY DANIEL JÄGER

Cast: Cast:

King Hydraot of Damascus Martin Gurbal’ / Jan Šťáva King Hydraot of Damascus Martin Gurbal’ / Jan Šťáva Armida, his daughter Dana Burešová / Eva Dřízgová‐Jirušová Armida, his daughter Dana Burešová / Eva Dřízgová‐Jirušová Ismen, a magician Richard Haan / Ulf Paulsen Ismen, a magician Richard Haan / Ulf Paulsen Petr, a hermit Ondrej Mráz / David Szendiuch Petr, a hermit Ondrej Mráz / David Szendiuch Bohumír Martin Bárta / Michal Křístek Bohumír Martin Bárta / Michal Křístek Rinald, a crusader Tomáš Černý / Valentin Prolat Rinald, a crusader Tomáš Černý / Valentin Prolat Dudo Pavel Ďuríček / Peter Svetlík Dudo Pavel Ďuríček / Peter Svetlík Sven Josef Moravec / Martin Šrejma Sven Josef Moravec / Martin Šrejma Roger Ondřej Koplík / Václav Morys Roger Ondřej Koplík / Václav Morys Gernand Matěj Chadima / Michal Onufer Gernand Matěj Chadima / Michal Onufer Ubald Roman Vlkovič / Václav Živný Ubald Roman Vlkovič / Václav Živný Muezin, Herald Jaroslav Kosec / Martin Štolba Muezin, Herald Jaroslav Kosec / Martin Štolba Siren Veronika Holbová / Marianna Pillárová Siren Veronika Holbová / Marianna Pillárová

Chorus and Orchestra of the National Moravian‐Silesian Chorus and Orchestra of the National Moravian‐Silesian Theatre – concert masters Vladimír Liberda and Petr Kupka Theatre – concert masters Vladimír Liberda and Petr Kupka

The opera is performed in Czech with Czech surtitles. The opera is performed in Czech with Czech surtitles.

First premiere performance on 3rd May 2012 First premiere performance on 3rd May 2012 at 6.30 pm at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre at 6.30 pm at the Antonín Dvořák Theatre

SYNOPSIS SYNOPSIS

Act I Act I

In the royal gardens of Damascus the call to prayer is In the royal gardens of Damascus the call to prayer is heard. Ismen enters with news of the approaching Franks, heard. Ismen enters with news of the approaching Franks, but tries to dissuade the King from a confrontation: let him but tries to dissuade the King from a confrontation: let him instead send his daughter (whose hand Ismen has been instead send his daughter (whose hand Ismen has been seeking) to sow dissention. She balks, but changes her seeking) to sow dissention. She balks, but changes her mind when Ismen uses his magic to show her the enemy mind when Ismen uses his magic to show her the enemy camp, recognizing Rinald as the knight she has just camp, recognizing Rinald as the knight she has just dreamed of. dreamed of.

Act II Act II

Armida arrives in the crusader's camp and meets Rinald, Armida arrives in the crusader's camp and meets Rinald, who brings her to into the council where she tells a story of who brings her to into the council where she tells a story of an usurping uncle having blinded the king and chased her an usurping uncle having blinded the king and chased her into the desert. Rinald cannot wait for the commander of into the desert. Rinald cannot wait for the commander of an expedition to restore her kingdom to be chosen by lot an expedition to restore her kingdom to be chosen by lot and is caught leaving camp with her by the hermit Peter, and is caught leaving camp with her by the hermit Peter, but the lovers are aided in their escape by Ismen, driving a but the lovers are aided in their escape by Ismen, driving a chariot pulled by dragons. chariot pulled by dragons.

Intermission Intermission

Act III Act III

Rinald and Armida are entertained in her garden by sirens Rinald and Armida are entertained in her garden by sirens and fairies. Ismen is disguised as an old man and tries to and fairies. Ismen is disguised as an old man and tries to destroy the palace, but finding his powers no match for destroy the palace, but finding his powers no match for Armida's sorcery, he goes to Rinald's companions and Armida's sorcery, he goes to Rinald's companions and claims to be a convert. Glad of his help, they accept from claims to be a convert. Glad of his help, they accept from him the Archangel Michael's diamond shield, which they him the Archangel Michael's diamond shield, which they use to bring Rinald out of the palace, which collapses as use to bring Rinald out of the palace, which collapses as soon as Armida gives way to grief. soon as Armida gives way to grief.

Intermission Intermission

Act IV Act IV

Rinald asks forgiveness for abandoning his comrades and Rinald asks forgiveness for abandoning his comrades and his mission. As the crusaders advance on Damascus the his mission. As the crusaders advance on Damascus the battle passes through the camp and Rinald kills Ismen and battle passes through the camp and Rinald kills Ismen and faces a black knight, who drops his sword when he curses faces a black knight, who drops his sword when he curses Armida's name. Only after stabbing her does he recognize Armida's name. Only after stabbing her does he recognize her and baptise her as she dies in his arms. her and baptise her as she dies in his arms.