Shakespeare, opera and Czechoslovakia

ŠKROBÁNKOVÁ, Klára. Shakespeare, opera and Czechoslovakia. In British Shakespeare Association 2016 Conference. 2016.

Basic information

• Original name: Shakespeare, opera and Czechoslovakia
• Name in Czech: Shakespeare, opera a Československo
• Name (in English): Shakespeare, opera and Czechoslovakia
• Authors: ŠKROBÁNKOVÁ, Klára.
• Edition: British Shakespeare Association 2016 Conference, 2016.

Other information

• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords (in Czech): Shakespeare; opera; adaptace, libreto
• Keywords in English: Shakespeare; opera; adaptation; libretto
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

This paper focuses on the relationship between Shakespeare and the opera adaptations of his plays in the 20th century Czechoslovakia. The creative tendencies of Czech and Slovak composers and librettists are demonstrated on two examples – one comedy adaptation, the other an adaptation of a tragedy. Opera buffa An Uproar in Efes, based on Comedy of Errors, by Czech composer Iša Krejčí with libretto by Josef Bachtík, was written during the Second World War. The libretto adaptation of Coriolanus by Slovak composer Ján Cikker was composed under the influence of the Soviet invasion in August 1968. Both operas try to respect Shakespeare’s originals as much as possible. However, the authors face all the problems one encounters when adapting drama for opera – both Cikker and Bachtík need to reduce the number of characters, compose choir numbers, simplify the plot and shorten the overall play. The paper describes all these changes in comparison with Shakespeare´s original work, focusing especially on the preservation of Shakespeare’s ideas combined with the contemporary political and social issues of the 20th century.

Abstract (in English)

This paper focuses on the relationship between Shakespeare and the opera adaptations of his plays in the 20th century Czechoslovakia. The creative tendencies of Czech and Slovak composers and librettists are demonstrated on two examples – one comedy adaptation, the other an adaptation of a tragedy. Opera buffa An Uproar in Efes, based on Comedy of Errors, by Czech composer Iša Krejčí with libretto by Josef Bachtík, was written during the Second World War. The libretto adaptation of Coriolanus by Slovak composer Ján Cikker was composed under the influence of the Soviet invasion in August 1968. Both operas try to respect Shakespeare’s originals as much as possible. However, the authors face all the problems one encounters when adapting drama for opera – both Cikker and Bachtík need to reduce the number of characters, compose choir numbers, simplify the plot and shorten the overall play. The paper describes all these changes in comparison with Shakespeare´s original work, focusing especially on the preservation of Shakespeare’s ideas combined with the contemporary political and social issues of the 20th century.

Links

• MUNI/A/1130/2015, interní kód MU: Name: Aktuální metodologické trendy teatrologického výzkumu (Acronym: DIVMETOD)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A