DVOŘÁKOVÁ L. SOPRANO RECITAL (WAGNER R., SMETANA B.) / PNT / R.Vašata

1. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) - Tannhäuser - Allmächt'ge Jungfrau - Elisabeth, Act 3 5:15

2. Richard Wagner - Tristan und Isolde - Wie lachend mir die Lieder singen - Isolde, Act 1 6:30

3. Richard Wagner - Tristan und Isolde - Mild und leise - Isolde, Act 3 6:15

4. Richard Wagner - Parsifal - Nein, Parsifal... Ich sah' das Kind - Kundry, Act 2 6:08

5. Richard Wagner - Die Walküre - Der Männer Sippe sass hier - Sieglinde, Act 1 5:06

6. Richard Wagner - Siegfried - Ewig war ich - Brünnhilde, Act 3 4:51

7. Richard Wagner - Götterdämmerung - Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort - Brünnhilde, Act 3 17:51

8. Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) - Dalibor - Jak je mi - Milada, Act 2 2:38

9. Bedřich Smetana - Libuše - Můj otče - Krasava, Act 2 10:20

10. Bedřich Smetana - The Two Widows - Odcházejí spolu - Anežka, Act 2 9:30

(sung in original languages)

Ludmila Dvořáková soprano (1-10)

Prague National Theatre orchestra (1-10)

Rudolf Vašata conductor (1-10)

Domovina Studio, Prague, May 31 and June 1-2, 1966 (1-3, 5-7) The Czech Radio, Prague, November 18, 1976 (4, 9, 10) and June 7, 1972 (8)

Ludmila Dvořáková enjoyed global fame as a slim, blonde soprano with a magnificent stage presence and possessing a voice of a distinct timbre, capable of both softness and drama, smoothly negotiating the high registers and with a dark middle register, always accurate and breathtaking. She excelled in the most demanding dramatic soprano roles and, following in the footsteps of Ema Destinnová, Maria Jeritza and Jarmila Novotná, was the first modern-era Czech singer to appear at the world's major opera houses, including the MET in New York. Ludmila Dvořáková started her career in Ostrava and soon caught the attention of Prague, where the National Theatre engaged her in 1954. In the following year, she was afforded the opportunity to work for the Staatsoper in Vienna, and in 1960 for the Staatsoper in Berlin. When Wieland Wagner heard her singing Ortrude in Munich, he invited her to the Bayreuth festival. Her debut appearance, in 1965, was followed by six years of collaboration and a degree of fame that no Czech artist had previously attained in Bayreuth. In 1966, she was offered contracts with the MET and Covent Garden. This recital, featuring recordings released on CD for the very first time, is compiled from Dvořáková's rare studio recordings made for Supraphon and Czechoslovak Radio. The venerable soprano's imminent 90th birthday represents a perfect opportunity to recall a voice that garnered enthusiastic applause at major opera houses worldwide.

Ludmila Dvořáková - a breathtaking voice that dazzled audiences at the most prestigious opera houses worldwide.

(Supraphon 2013)