About the work
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia (Czech: Braniboři v Čechách) is Bedřich Smetana’s first opera, composed in 1862/63 to a libretto by Karel Sabina based on a historical novel by Josef Kajetán Tyl. It premiered on 5 January 1866 at the Provisional Theatre in Prague; with it, Smetana won a competition for the first Czech national opera.
Plot
Set in Prague in 1279 after the death of King Ottokar II, the opera follows occupying Brandenburg troops controlling the city while the German traitor Tausendmark abducts the daughters of the mayor Volfram. Young Ludiše loves the loyal Junoš rather than the occupier, while a commoners’ revolt led by Jíra rises against foreign rule. In the end the traitor is exposed, the abducted women are freed, and the Brandenburgers are forced to withdraw.
Cultural significance
As the first completed Czech-language national opera, the work established Smetana’s reputation as the father of Czech music; after great initial success with both Czech and German audiences it failed to hold a lasting place in the international repertoire and is performed today mainly in the Czech Republic.