Saint Ludmila. Oratorio on the Words by Jaroslav Vrchlický for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 71 (B 144)

Part I - Coro - Chorus of Priests and People: Holy Dawn and Holy Night


  • Recorded: 9th November 1963
  • Record Place: The Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum, Prague
  • First Release: 1964
  • (P) 1964 SUPRAPHON a.s.
  • Genre: Vocal - Religious

Artists

  • music by: Antonín Dvořák
  • conductor: Václav Smetáček
  • chorus master: Josef Veselka
  • musical group: Prague Symphony Orchestra
  • musical group: Prague Philharmonic Choir
  • original lyrics by: Jaroslav Vrchlický

Album

Various Artists

Dvořák: Sacred Works & Cantatas

Catalogue Number: SU 4187-2
Published: 17th July 2015
Genre: Vocal - Religious
Format: 8 CD
Antonín Dvořák - Stabat Mater, Op. 58; Saint Ludmila, Op. 71; Mass in D major, Op. 86; Requiem, Op. 89; Biblical Songs, Op. 99; Te Deum, Op. 103; Psalm 149, Op. 79; The Heirs of the White Mountain, Op. 30; The Spectre's Bride, Op. 69; Sacred songs

Prague Philharmonic Choir, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra / Jiří Bělohlávek, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Václav Smetáček, Zdeněk Košler, Václav Neumann. Gabriela Beňačková, Eva Urbanová - soprano, Věra Soukupová - alto, Beno Blachut - tenor, Jindřich Jindrák, Ivan Kusnjer - baritone, Peter Mikuláš, Richard Novák - bass, Ivan Moravec - piano, and others

"Dad's God was not the God of Vengeance but the Creator, who sanctifies the journey through the 'valley of death' through his infinite love," is how Antonín Dvořák's sincere piety was recalled by his son Otakar. Faith in God was for Dvořák the cornerstone on which he built his own life and work, hence it comes as no surprise that a number of his seminal pieces are within the domain of sacred music, and frequently linked with a strong personal story. The first version of the oratorio Stabat Mater came into being after the death of his first-born daughter. In the wake of the triumph of its London premiere, Dvořák received more commissions from the UK, which gave rise to other paramount compositions: The Spectre's Bride, Requiem and Saint Ludmila. The instigation for Te Deum came from New York, where following the premiere of the "New World Symphony" Dvořák wrote the Biblical Songs, the apex of his oeuvre of this genre. The set also contains pieces that have been seldom performed (the cantata The Heirs of the White Mountain, Psalm 149 in the previously unreleased recording made by the conductor Václav Neumann, etc.). At the same time, this new collection within the Dvořák series showcases superlative artists, and the listeners will undoubtedly also be pleased by the sensitively remastered sound of the recordings. These gems from the Supraphon archive definitely deserve exceptional care.

Spiritual Dvořák - paramount works masterfully performed, with a carefully remastered sound.

CD 1

Antonín Dvořák
Stabat Mater. Oratorio for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 58 (B 71)
1. Stabat Mater dolorosa. Andante con moto 19:02
2. Quis est homo, qui non fleret. Andante sostenuto 09:50
3. Eja, Mater, fons amoris. Andante con moto 06:37
4. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum. Largo 08:40
5. Tui Nati vulnerati. Andante con moto, quasi allegretto 04:42
6. Fac me vere tecum flere. Andante con moto 05:38
7. Virgo virginum praeclara. Largo 06:22
8. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem. Larghetto 05:26
9. Inflammatus et accensus. Andante maestoso 05:46
10. Quando corpus morietur. Andante con moto 07:35

CD 2

Antonín Dvořák
Te Deum for Soloists, Mixed Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 103 (B 176)
1. Te Deum laudamus. Allegro moderato, maestoso 05:48
2. Tu Rex gloriae. Lento maestoso 04:44
3. Aeterna fac cum sanctis. Vivace 02:45
4. Dignare Domine, die ista. Lento 05:52
Antonín Dvořák
Mass for Soloists, Mixed Chorus, Organ and Orchestra in D major, Op. 86 (B 175)
5. Kyrie. Andante con moto 05:18
6. Gloria. Allegro vivo 08:08
7. Credo. Allegro moderato 12:45
8. Sanctus. Allegro maestoso 02:05
9. Benedictus. Lento 06:14
10. Agnus Dei. Andante 04:49
Antonín Dvořák
Biblical Songs. On text of Bible of Kralice, Op. 99 (B189)
11. Darkness and thunderclouds 02:34
12. Lord my shield, my refuge and hope art Thou 02:15
13. Hear, oh hear my prayer, Lord my God 03:27
14. Oh, my shepherd is the Lord 02:50
15. Songs of gladness will I sing Thee 02:58

CD 3

Antonín Dvořák
Requiem for Solo Voices, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 89 (B 165)
1. Introitus: Requiem aeternam 10:58
2. Graduale: Requiem aeternam 04:58
3. Dies irae 02:18
4. Tuba mirum 09:19
5. Quid sum miser 06:39
6. Recordare Jesu Pie 07:44
7. Confutatis maledictis 04:35
8. Lacrimosa 07:07
9. Domine Jesu Christe 12:40
10. Hostias 11:11

CD 4

Antonín Dvořák
Requiem for Solo Voices, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 89 (B 165)
1. Sanctus 06:15
2. Sequentia: Pie Jesu 05:28
3. Agnus Dei 11:05
Antonín Dvořák
4. Psalm 149 for Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 79 (B 154) 08:56
Antonín Dvořák
The Heirs of the White Mountain. Hymn from the Poem by Vítězslav Hálek, Op. 30 (B 134)
5. The Heirs of the White Mountain 18:43

CD 5

Antonín Dvořák
Saint Ludmila. Oratorio on the Words by Jaroslav Vrchlický for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 71 (B 144)
1. Part I - Introduzione e coro - Chorus of Heathen Priests: The Dusk Departs to Gloomy Caves and Forests 09:34
2. Part I - Coro - Chorus of People: Blossoms, with Which Spring Allures Us 05:10
3. Part I - Coro - Chorus of Priests and People: Holy Dawn and Holy Night 03:24
4. Part I - Coro - Chorus: Triglaw, Thou with Three-fold Countenance 04:13
5. Part I - Recitativo - soprano solo - Ludmila: My Heart Is Beating Wildly 02:35
6. Part I - Coro: Hear when We Sing Our Psalm with Burning Passion 02:28
7. Part I - Aria - soprano solo - Ludmila: When Young It Was the Altar I Ever Held most Dear 04:14
8. Part I - Coro: The Gods are Close at Hand, Wher'er We Stray and Falter 02:57
9. Part I - Tenore solo - A Husbandman: Festoon with Flowers Gay the Statue of Great Vesna 01:38
10. Part I - Coros: What Causes All That Noise? 03:17
11. Part I - Aria basso solo e coro - Ivan: Now Kiss the Dust, All! One God There Is! 04:55
12. Part I - Coro: What Man Is This Whom Lightning Will not Fell? 03:41
13. Part I - Aria - soprano solo - Ludmila: I Beg Thee, on Thy Dusty Feet My Lips I Would Lay 07:24
14. Part I - Recitativo - basso solo - Ivan: Upon This Earth Thy Search Would Be a Vain Quest 01:23
15. Part I - Coro: What Will Befall Us? 03:07
16. Part I - Coro: Now Everything Is Crumbling, All Is Chaos 04:56

CD 6

Antonín Dvořák
Saint Ludmila. Oratorio on the Words by Jaroslav Vrchlický for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 71 (B 144)
1. Part II - Introduzione, recitativo ed aria - contralto solo - Svatava: Oh, in the Fearful Forest Shadows 08:38
2. Part II - Duetto - soprano ed contralto solo - Ludmila, Svatava: Pray Tell Me Now, What Do You Seek 04:23
3. Part II - Aria - basso solo - Ivan: No Error Made I, I Welcome You, Daughter! 03:24
4. Part II - Recitativo - soprano - solo - Ludmila: Thanks, Father! I Felt Sure, I Was Right 00:42
5. Part II - Aria - basso solo - Ivan: First You Should Learn, Know Deep Down in Your Being 01:59
6. Part II -Terzetto e coro - Ludmila, Svatava, Ivan and the Attendants of Bořivoj: Gaily We Pass through Field and through Forest 01:50
7. Part II - Tenore solo e coro - Bořivoj: Oh, What a Sight There in the Shadows, and One That Causes Me to Fear! 04:17
8. Part II - Recitativo - basso solo - Ivan: I Lead the Lost Souls out of Darkness 00:51
9. Part II - Coro: I Think, the Truth I Now Infer 02:32
10. Part II - Recitativo - tenore e basso solo - Bořivoj and Ivan: Ah, It Is She for Whom My Heart Is Yearning 02:34
11. Part II - Aria - tenore solo - Bořivoj: Oh, Show To Me the Way That I Must Win Her 03:43
12. Part II - Coro: Oh, Look There, See Our Prince, Upon His Knees 00:51
13. Part II - Recitativo - soprano solo - Ludmila: How Is It Possible to Raise My Eyelids 01:26
14. Part II - Recitativo tenore e basso solo - Bořivoj, Ivan: I Rudely Awake from a Perfect Dream 02:58
15. Part II - Quartetto e coro - Ludmila, Svatava, Bořivoj, Ivan: For This New Shining Dawn I Am Now Searching 04:37
16. Part III - Introduzione e coro - Introduction: Mighty Lord, Have Mercy on Us! 04:06
17. Part III - Recitativo tenore e basso solo - Ivan, Bořivoj: Come Forward All to Whom I've Taught the New Creed 01:38
18. Part III - Duetto - soprano e tenore solo - Ludmila, Bořivoj: Anoint Our Foreheads with the Holy Water 03:13
19. Part III - Recitativo - soprano e basso solo - Ludmila, Ivan: Here on the Threshold of My Aspirations 02:34
20. Part III - Coro: So Both of You Will Kneel Before Methodius 01:14
21. Díl III - Introduzione intrumentale 00:46
22. Part III - Contralto solo e coro - Svatava: Virgin Mother of Our Saviour 02:41
23. Part III - Contralto e basso solo e coro - Svatava, Ivan: Now Let the Heavens Echo with Our Anthem 03:44
24. Part III - Soli e coro: Mighty Lord, Have Mercy on Us! 06:52

CD 7

Antonín Dvořák
The Spectre 's Bride. Dramatic Cantata to the Words by Karel Jaromír Erben for Soloists, Mixed Chorus and Large Orchestra, Op. 69 (B 135)
1. Introduction 04:14
2. Coro: The Clock Had Chimed Eleven Hours 06:20
3. Soprano solo: Woeful Am I! Where Is My Father? 07:49
4. Tenore e basso solo e coro: The Picture Moved upon the Wall 01:41
5. Duetto. Soprano e tenore solo: Ho, I Have Come, Dear, for Your Sake! 04:10
6. Basso solo e coro: This Was the Hour of Deepest Night 01:02
7. Basso solo e coro: Whit Bounds and Leaps, He Led the Way 02:53
8. Duetto. Tenore e soprano solo: Fine night and clear in times like this 04:06
9. Basso solo e coro: Seizing Her Books He threw Them Far 01:33
10. Basso solo e coro: Whit Bounds and Leaps He Led the Way 03:14
11. Duetto. Soprano e tenore solo: Fine Night and Clear; at Such a Time 04:29
12. Basso solo e coro: Their Path Led over Lowland Now 04:42
13. Duetto. Soprano e tenore solo: Fine Night and Clear: at Such a Time 05:04
14. Basso solo e coro: There on a Broad and Open Plain 01:28
15. Recitativo. Soprano e tenore solo e coro: Ho My Sweet Lassie, Here We Are 04:00
16. Basso solo e coro: One Leap and He Had Cleared the Wall 05:08
17. Basso solo e coro: The Door Resounded: Bang, Bang, bang! 04:19
18. Soprano solo: Hail Virgin Mary, Stand by Me 05:19
19. Basso solo e coro: But Hark! a Sound from Close at Hand 06:47

CD 8

Antonín Dvořák
1. Ave maris stella for Baritone and Organ, Op. 19A (B 95A) 03:26
Antonín Dvořák
2. O sanctissima for Alto, Baritone and Organ, Op. 19A (B 95B) 02:57
Antonín Dvořák
3. Ave Maria for Alto and Organ, Op. 19B (B 68) 03:02
Antonín Dvořák
4. Hymnus ad laudes in festo Sanctissimae Trinitatis for Alto and Organ, sine Op. (B 82) 02:45
Antonín Dvořák
Biblical Songs. On text of Bible of Kralice, Op. 99 (B185)
5. Darkness and thunderclouds are round about Him. Andantino 02:34
6. Lord my shield, my refuge and hope art Thou. Andante 02:19
7. Hear, oh hear my prayer, Lord my God. Andante 03:20
8. Oh, my shepherd is the Lord. Andante 03:24
9. Songs of gladness will I sing Thee. Risoluto maestoso 02:48
10. Hear, oh Lord, my bitter cry. Andante 03:32
11. By the shore of the river Babylon. Andante 03:29
12. Oh, Lord, have mercy and turn Thou Thy face to me. Andante 03:17
13. My eyes will I to the hills lift up. Andante con moto 02:30
14. Oh, sing unto the Lord a joyful song. Allegro moderato 01:52