Dvorak, A. The Stubborn Lovers. Comic opera in 1 act / Z.Kloubova, J.Brezina, R.Janal, J.Sykorova, G.Belacek / Prague Chamber Philharm./ J.Belohlavek

Antonin Dvorak wrote his opera, The Stubborn Lovers, in 1874, as his third work for the stage. His intention was to produce a comic opera rendering a humorous tableau capturing the atmosphere and human relations in the Bohemian/Czech countryside. Dvorak´s exceptional compositional invention and profound yet natural feeling for music were by now fully developped. This one-act opera, premiered at the New Czech Theatre in 1881, abounds in down-to-earth yet spirited music backing the action of a gallery of originally conceived lyrical characters. Dvorak´s one-acter, however, has proved less than lucky as regards the frequency of actual stage productions. Perhaps this was due to the standard need for the producers to find another one-acter with which to couple it in a double bill. We wish to make up for the undeserved neglect of this opera by presenting this recording, the world premiere in CD format, which is dedicated to the coming centenary of Dvorak´s death, an occasion which will be marked by the whole music world on 1st May, 2004. This project came to involve the joint forces, under the baton of Jiri Belohlavek, of a potent team of young soloists, backed by the Prague Philharmonia and Prague Philharmonic Choir. Here is a unique recording set to broaden the music lovers´ knowledge of Dvorak´s multifaceted compositional legacy. Dvorak´s The Stubborn Lovers in a world first on CD.