The Devil's Wall
Catalogue of Works by Bedřich Smetana
Basic information
Title:
The Devil's Wall
Inscribed on the autograph: Čertova stěna. / Komicko-romantická zpěvohra o třech jednáních. [The Devil's Wall. / Comic-romantic opera in three acts].
Subtitle:
Comic-romantic opera in three acts
Title by autograph:
ČERTOVA STĚNA
Subtitle by autograph:
Komicko-romantická zpěvohra o 3 dějstvích
Classification according to the catalogue of J. Berkovec:
1.122
Title according to the catalogue of J. Berkovec:
Čertova stěna
Parts/Subjects:
Introduction, I. Landscape with trees and boulders, II. A room in a shepherd's hut, III. A stream of the Vltava River falling from a forest rock. A monastery beyond the river.
Note:
SSD 1875: "Čertova stěna, dohot. 17 dubna 1882. ponejprv provozovaná v divadle za byv. bránou v neděli dne 29ho října. Opera byla nedbale vypravovaná. Zima nutila ředitele, vzdor mých žádostech, nechat operu do malého divadla, k forcirovaným zkouškám. Špatná výprava, staré kostumi, nedostatek skoušek mně rozlobili tak, že jsem jen z tíží se nechal uchlácholit. - Hudba se líbíla." ["Devil's Wall, finished 17 April 1882. first performed in the theatre behind the former gate on Sunday, 29 October. The opera was poorly staged. The cold weather forced the director, despite my pleas, to hold the opera in the small theatre for rehearsals. Its bad production, old costumes, and lack of rehearsals angered me so much that I could hardly be appeased. - I liked the music."]
Cast
Instrumental cast:
2+pic.,2,2,2 - 4,2,3,0 - timp., trg, pti - arp - archi
Vocal cast:
Mixed choir and solo vocals
Other information
The Devil's Wall: original version
Place of origin:
Jabkenice
Date of beginning of composition:
09/1879
Date of composition completion:
06/1882
Note on date and place of origin:
Act I completed on 12 March 1881, Act II completed on 15 September 1881, Act III completed on 17 April 1882. Revised in June 1882.
Premiere date:
29. 10. 1882
Place of premiere:
Prague, New Czech Theatre
Performer/Soloist:
Conductor/Chorus Master:
Staging:
František Hynek - director, J. F. Hais - script writer
Ensemble:
Josef Lev, Betty Fibichová, Antonín Vávra, Irma Reichová, Adolf Krössing, Marie Sittová, František Hynek, Josef Chlumecký
1st edition of the score
Edition type:
Piano-vocal score
Publisher:
Place of publication:
Prague
Year:
1883
Critical edition
Edition type:
Full score
Place of publication:
Prague
Title of the work:
Čertova stěna Komicko-romantická opera ve třech dějstvích
Part of a whole:
SVDBS XII
Name of edition:
Studijní vydání děl Bedřicha Smetany [Study Edition of the Works of Bedřich Smetana], Vol. 12, pp. 1-667
Year:
1959
Note:
The volume contains only the opera The Devil's Wall.
1st edition of the libretto
Publisher:
Place of publication:
Prague
Title of the work:
ČERTOVA STĚNA Komicko-romantická opera ve 3 dějstvích
Year:
1882
Note:
Text by Eliška Krásnohorská