Fibichův Blaník konkuruje Smetanově Libuši
Fibich’s Blaník Competes with Smetana’s Libuše

Summary/Abstract: After his first opera Bukovín Zdeněk Fibich approached his next operatic composition with the greatest respect. Bukovín achieved only a “fair” success (it was premiered under Adolf Čech’s baton in April 1874), and Fibich wished to overcome this result with a new libretto by Eliška Krásnohorská, which Fibich began to set in the autumn of 1874. Fibich worked quickly in this period, but he did not finish the instrumentation until 1877, and the première took place in 1881. Nevertheless, external circumstances which inhibited Fibich in working more quickly finally proved to be a positive stimulus. Fibich could revise the Czech declamation and invent highly original music for an equally good libretto; Fibich responded with Wagnerian ideas (leitmotiv technique, strengthened orchestration) as well as grand opera conventions (tableau vivant etc.). Fibich submitted Blaník for an opera competition for the opening of the National Theatre in Prague. The result was announced in 1880, and as expected Smetana’s Libuše was awarded the first prize. The opera Černohorci by Karel Bendl and Fibich’s Blaník were each rewarded with only a half-prize. Unfortunately the National Theatre burnt down and Blaník had to be premiered in the Interim Theatre. Despite this fact Blaník was received with unequivocal recognition and became the crucial impetus for a courageous work – the Czech modern tragic opera, The Bride of Messina.

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