Bedřich Smetana’s orchestral masterpiece Má Vlast (My Homeland) is one of the most important works in the Czech classical repertoire. Since its first ever performance in Prague’s Žofín Palace in 1882, the Czech Homeland has seen many significant changes in its political landscape and rule. Let’s take a look at the history of the piece as a musical accompaniment to the turbulent events of the Czech lands, ahead of Welsh National Opera Orchestra’s performance of the piece at St David’s Hall on 29 January.
Known as the ‘Father of Czech Music’, Smetana’s Má Vlast was composed between 1874-79 as six separate orchestral pieces, exploring Czech history and legends. Its first performance was a huge success and soon became symbolic of the patriotic spirit of the Czech people and their lands. The Czech music publication Dalibor immediately hailed the performance as ‘the best Czech concert as could be imagined’.
Just before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the former state of Czechoslovakia was invaded and occupied by the Nazis. At Prague’s National Theatre in opposition to the occupation, Má Vlast was performed by the Czech Philharmonic with conductor Václav Talich to applause that nearly lifted the roof off the theatre. So powerful was the piece in inspiring Czech cultural resistance to the occupation, the Nazis banned all performances of the work until a 1941 Czech Philharmonic performance in Berlin forced the Nazis to return the piece to the Czech people. The BBC even used extracts from Má Vlast every time there was a Czech language news broadcast.
Later on, in 1990, the Prague Spring International Music Festival marked the first performance of Má Vlast since the collapse of Communism in the Czech and Slovak lands. After the Second World War, Czechoslovakia became part of the Soviet Union until the Velvet Revolution of 1989 began a transition of power from communist party rule to a parliamentary republic. The renowned Czech conductor and founder of the festival Rafael Kubelík came out of retirement and voluntary exile to conduct the Czech Philharmonic’s performance to enormous crowds in Prague’s Old Town Square. The performance has since become legendary, using an orchestra of more than double the usual size – a true celebration for Czech democracy and the country’s first free elections.
Má Vlast has opened the Prague Spring International Music Festival on 12 May every year since 1949. The date marks the anniversary of Smetana’s death. WNO Orchestra and WNO Music Director Tomaš Hanus will be joining the likes of the Czech Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra in opening the festival at Smetana Hall in 2023.
Seize the rare opportunity to hear WNO Orchestra perform Má Vlast in its entirety at St David’s Hall on Sunday 29 January at 3pm.