Armida
Premiere performances: 19 and 21 May 2023 at the National Theatre
Basic information
The National Theatre
Approximate running time3 hours, 1 intermission (20 minutes) minutes
LanguageIn Czech, surtitles in Czech, English
PremiereMay 19, 2023
Antonín Dvořák’s final completed piece, the opera Armida, is inspired by Torquato Tasso’s Renaissance epic La Gerusalemme liberata.
Cast
- 2024-2025
Creatives
About
National Theatre Chorus
National Theatre Orchestra
National Theatre Opera Ballet
Jaroslav Vrchlický, still the only poet to have translated Tasso‘s gargantuan work into Czech in its entirety, based his libretto on the episode depicting the love story of Armida, the daughter of King Hydraot of Damascus, and Rinald, a knight participating in a Crusade. Despite possessing extraordinary qualities and beauty, in comparison with other Dvořák operas Armida has always been somewhat shunned by theatre-makers. Following the world premiere in 1904, at the National Theatre in Prague, its first production was only given seven performances. The next time the opera was staged was in 1928, by Otakar Ostrčil. In 1941, Armida was undertaken by Václav Talich, with the production revived by František Škvor after World War II. It was most recently performed under the conductor František Vajnar in 1987. More than three decades later, the time has come to bring back on stage Dvořák’s brilliant work in its entirety, not just selected arias, which opera singers have gladly included in their recitals.
The production of Armida will be the first to be conducted by Robert Jindra since he assumed the post of music director of the National Theatre Opera. After nine years, the National Theatre will welcome back Jiří Heřman, whose sophisticated and visually forcible productions have made him one of the most acclaimed and most sought-after Czech opera directors of the past few decades.
Suitable for audience from 12 years.
The production has been financially supported by the National Theatre Benefactors’ Club.
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Practical information
Where to buy tickets
The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in November 2024 – April 2025.
When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.
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