A tribute to Angelo Neumann (1838–1910)

Gala Concert

• Anda-Louisa Bogza, Christina Vasileva – soprano
• Svatopluk Sem – baritone
• Prague State Opera Orchestra and Choir

Program

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

• Overture

Tannhäuser

• Dich, teure Halle, grüß ich wieder
  Elisabeth’s aria from Act 2 (Anda-Louise Bogza)
• Freudig begrüssen wir die edle Halle
  Chorus from Act 2

Rienzi

• Overture

Lohengrin

• Treulich geführt ziehet dahin…
  Overture and wedding march from Act 3

Tristan und Isolde

• Overture
• Mild und leise wie er lächelt
  Isolde’s love-death, Act 3 (Anda-Louise Bogza)

interval

Ruggiero Leoncavallo (1857 – 1919)

I Pagliacci

• Si può?... Signore! Signori!... Un nido di memorie
  Prologue (Svatopluk Sem)
• Nedda!... Silvio! A quest’ora che imprudenza!
  Duet of Nedda and Silvio (Christina Vasileva, Svatopluk Sem)

Gioacchino Rossini (1792 – 1868)

Guillaume Tell

• Overture

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)

Il trovatore

• Tacea la notte placida
  Leonora’s cavatina from Act 1 (Anda-Louise Bogza)
• Vedi le fosche notturne
  Chorus from Act 2

Arrigo Boito (1842 – 1918)

Mefistofele

• L’altra notte in fondo al mare
  Margherita’s aria from Act 3 (Christina Vasileva)
• Salve Regina
  Chorus, Finale of Prologue

Angelo Neumann (1838 – 1910)

An acclaimed baritone and a brilliant manager with a bountiful record of theatrical experience Angelo Neumann shaped the history of Prague’s New German Theatre during no fewer than 22 years, from the theatre’s opening on January 5, 1888, with Wagner’s Meistersinger von Nürnberg, until his death in 1910. He came to the New German Theatre after three years as director of the Royal Land German Theatre (then the official name of the Nostitz Theatre in Prague’s Ovocný trh, or Fruit Market). The repertoire Neumann built up for the new theatre was centered around the compositional legacies of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, the latter of whom made several visits here to conduct his operas, Guntram, Salome, and Der Rosenkavalier. Along with that, Neumann showed due respect for Italian Romantic opera, focusing particularly on the output of Veristic composers, most notably Puccini and Mascagni. Mascagni made several visits to the New German Theatre, to conduct his phenomenally successful one-acter, Cavalleria rusticana. Neumann was likewise a tireless seeker of new titles, bringing onto the company’s stage a number of world, Czech and Prague first productions. Under his management the New German Theatre boasted a modern approach to dramaturgy, flawless execution of its productions, and exquisite standard of interpretation, qualities which elevated it to a high European status. His death, on December 20, 1910, was a major loss for Prague’s theatre world.

Premiere: Dec 16, 2010