Damn and Kacha ( Czech Čert a Káča ) - opera of the Czech composer Antonin Dvořák in 3 acts , the libretto by Adolf Wenig. First production - Prague , National Theater , November 23, 1899
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Dvořák found the plot motifs in the collection of Czech folk tales, arranged by Bozhena Nemtsova and in the play by farce of Josef Kaetan Masla “Devil on the Earth” ( Czech Čert na zemi ). The opera reproduces well the folk spirit of the Czech people, in it social, everyday and fabulously folklore motifs are intertwined.
The stubborn and lingual Kacha goes to hell, where the devil Marbuel dragged her. But he quickly regretted his “prey”: Kacha leads him as a man, and does not give rest to anyone in hell. A shepherd Irka descends to save the girl to hell. He makes a deal with the devil: the shepherd takes Kacha, and the unclean one should help the peasants who are tormented by the oppression of the princess. When the devil comes to the liking of the princess, she agrees with fright to free the peasants from corvee. In the next room, Irka hides Kachu, hearing her voice, the devil immediately runs away.
The music of the opera is permeated with simple folk humor and optimism. The melody is close to folk songs, dance rhythms sound in the Czech national style. Interesting in the work is the extreme simplicity of communication between the people and the evil spirits, while gentlemen are very afraid of it.
In the USSR, opera was first staged in Perm - at the Perm Opera and Ballet Theater ( 1956 ).
Literature
- Gosenpud A.A. Brief Opera Dictionary. - Kiev: Musical Ukraine, 1986.