Ukrainian conductor Andriy Yurkevych became the new music director of the State Opera in Prague, part of the National Theatre.
Director Jan Burian announced this at the start of the new season. Andriy Yurkevych, resident conductor of the Lviv National Opera, who has lived in Italy for two decades, already conducted Verdi’s Traviata in Prague this year.
He replaces Karl-Heinz Steffens. In the spring of 2023, he will take on the last premiere of the season – Mascagni’s The Saddler Cavalier and Leoncavallo ‘s Comedians . Both veristic briefcases presented together will be directed by Ondřej Havelka.
Conductor Robert Jindra starts working again at the National Theater as the musical director of the opera. He replaced Jaroslav Kyzlink . His arrival, announced a long time ago, is currently opening the renewed production of Dvořák’s Rusalka directed by Jiří Heřman.
The title role is played by Kateřina Kněžíková for the first time on the stage of the National Theatre , and the world-renowned bassist Günther Groissböck is the Aquarian (Vodník) in his Prague debut . Robert Jindra is also preparing a concert performance of Janáček’s opera Vec Makropulos with Eva Urbanová on September 11 and 14starring Emilia Marty. The first production that Jindra will stage after taking up his position will be Dvořák’s last opera , Armida , at the National Theater in the repertoire after thirty years. Jiří Heřman is to direct it.
„I wish to the both newly appointed music directors good luck and a lot of energy in fulfilling their demanding artistic tasks,” says the artistic director of the National Theater Opera and the State Opera Per Boye Hansen. „I believe that with their enthusiasm, artistic experience and perspective, they will contribute to building Prague’s unique position on the opera map of Europe.”
Andriy Yurkevych ‘s first performances in his new position will be La traviata on September 3 and Tosca on September 4. Traviata is the debut of soprano Lucie Kaňková in the role of Violetta at the State Opera in Prague.
The newly appointed Music Director of the National Theatre Opera Robert Jindra will introduce himself to the audiences with a series of four performances of Dvořák’s Rusalka in August and September followed by a concert performance of Janáček’s Makropulos Affair sung by leading European performers.