Heroic opera in three acts
Duration: 1 hour
Music: Leoš Janáček
(Composed 1887, revised 1888, 1918, 1924-5)
Orchestrations: Janáček & Osvald Chlubna
Libretto: Julius Zeyer, after Dalimil’s Chronicle
Premiered: Brno, 11/11/1925

Catalogue Number: JW I/1




Janáček’s first opera is representative not so much of the style which we have most clearly come to associate with him, but of the nationalism of his predecessors Dvořák and Smetana. Anyone expecting the usual Janáček trappings of claustrophobic domesticity or joyful Moravian forest life will be rather perplexed by this hour-long work. Janáček wrote the first version of Šárka in 1887 and sent his manuscript to Dvořák. He revised the work in the light of Dvořák’s suggestions, yet the opera was not performed in the early part of Janáček’s career. Julius Zeyer, the author of the libretto, refused to let the relatively young, unknown and inexperienced composer have the rights to the libretto, wanting Dvořák himself to write the opera. Unfortunately for Janáček his setting of the libretto was already written. It was eventually performed in Brno on 11th November 1925 as part of Janáček’s 70th birthday celebrations. The rights for the libretto were now easily obtainable as Zeyer had died in 1901 and his executors deemed the now wise and experienced Janáček a suitable composer for the text. Despite Janáček’s great fondness for the piece, performances have been rare. It has recently enjoyed increased attention, including performances (in Edinburgh 1993, France 2001 & Garsington 2002), a recording and the release of a score (by Universal Edition and Editio Moravia), something which Janáček fought for throughout his life. The new vocal score was edited by Jiří Zahrádka, who will edit a forthcoming edition of Brouček.  It is available as a vocal score for purchase, though a full score can be hired. Despite the many musical glories of the score, Šárka is dramatically less accomplished and not as appealing as the operas which followed it, but its performance and dissemination are important for a full understanding of the traditions from which Janáček came. It is also, most importantly, his first attempt at opera, and is of interest for that fact alone. Janáček himself had a great fondness for the score and revised the work several times before it was first performed at his 70th birthday celebrations in Brno in 1925.

Synopsis:

The legend of the maiden warrior Šárka is found in the mythology of the beginnings of the Czech people. During Libuše’s reign they experienced a golden age and the female population had become the privileged members of society, whereas under the rule of her husband Přemysl, after Libuše’s death this was not the case, causing a revolt. They produced a female army, led by Vlasta (who does not appear in the opera), of whom Šárka was the fiercest warrior. As the opera opens the morale of the male troups is flagging, yet is restored by the young Ctirad, who guards Libuše’s tomb. The women enter the sepulchre, but are scared by the appearance of Ctirad, and swear vengeance. Šárka plans to trap the young male warrior and the maidens tie her to a tree, apparently open and helpless. Ctirad finds her, takes pity and unties her, falling in love with Šárka, and she with him. She remembers her resolve however, and calls for the maidens to come and kill Ctirad. During the funeral for Ctirad Šárka, grief-stricken, throws herself onto his pyre and dies in the flames, the chorus sings a lament for the lovers.



Bibliography:
The range of information about Janáček’s first opera is rather scarce.

For some detail:
Tyrrell, John, Czech Opera (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988)

Tyrrell, John: Janáček’s Operas: A Documentary Account (London: Faber, 1992)

And Plumley, Gavin, 'Out of the trunk and onto the pyre'
in Opera: Festivals Issue 2002 see http://www.opera.co.uk
for further details on how to buy a copy or just click here

Cheek, Timothy
Singing in Czech: A Guide to Czech Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire (Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2001)

Edition: Universal Edition/Editio Moravia, 2002, edited by Jiří Zahrádka (the front cover of which is pictured here)

Recordings:
Urbanová, Straka, Kusnjer, Brezina, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Chorus: Mackerras (Supraphon, SU 3485) 2001 release.