The Stubborn Lovers

The Stubborn Lovers (Czech: Tvrdé palice), Op. 17, is a one-act comic opera in 16 scenes by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. It was written in 1874 to the libretto of the Czech lawyer and writer Josef Štolba (1846–1930). In English, the work is also known as The Pig-Headed Peasants.[1]

The Stubborn Lovers
Comic opera by Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvořák in 1882
LibrettistJosef Štolba
LanguageCzech
Premiere
2 October 1881 (1881-10-02)
New Czech Theatre, Prague

Performance history

The première took place on 2 October 1881 at the New Czech Theatre (Nové české divadlo) in Prague, but was withdrawn from the stage after the second performance as the management of the theatre could not reach an agreement with the composer on his royalties. The opera was staged very rarely during Dvořák's lifetime; nonetheless, it later became part of the standard Czech operatic repertoire.

Roles
Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 2 October 1881[2]
Conductor: Mořic Anger
Říhová contralto Betty Fibichová
Řeřicha bass Karel Čech
Lenka soprano Helena Frommová
Vávra baritone Leopold Stropnický
Toník tenor Adolf Krössing

Synopsis

Two village neighbours, widower Vávra and widow Říhová, came to an agreement that their children, Toník and Lenka, will be married, but without their approval. The godfather of the youngsters, old Řeřicha, knows that they love each other, but they are too stubborn to yield to any pressure. The young pair refuses to obey their parents and the cunning Řeřicha tries to find a way out. He suggests to the lovers that actually old Vávra (Toník's father) wants to marry Lenka, while Říhová (Lenka's mother) is to get Toník as a husband. Řeřicha arranges a secret meeting, first with Lenka then with Toník, and they spy on the meetings of their counterparts and their alleged old suitors. Toník and Lenka start to be jealous of each other. Řeřicha's successful trick spreads fast through the village and the parents become targets of ridicule. Toník and Lenka regret their stubbornness and admit their love. Finally, Řeřicha admits he set the trap only for the sake of uniting the "stubborn lovers", and everything concludes in a happy ending.

Recordings

References
  1. "The Stubborn Lovers". 5MBS, South Australia. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  2. Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Tvrdé palice, 2 October 1881". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).

Further reading
  • Burghauser, Jarmil (2006). Antonín Dvořák. Prague: Koniasch Latin Press. ISBN 80-86791-26-2.
  • Trojan, Jan (2001). Dějiny opery. Prague: Paseka. ISBN 80-7185-348-8.
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