THE DEVIL AND KATE (Cert a Káca) Comic opera in three acts Sung in English Music by Antonin Dvorák Libretto by Adolf Wenig English translation by Ian Gledhill Based on a story in Bozena Nemcová’s Folk Tales and Legends (1845), the drama by J. K. Tyl (1850) and a poem by Ladislav Quis (1883) First performance at the Prague National Theatre on November 23, 1899 James Allbritten, music director Angela Ward, musical preparation Steven LaCosse, stage director Jerry Hatmaker, guest choreographer Behind the Scenes hosted by the NCSA Associates Monday, January 14, 2008 Watson Hall, NCSA Campus, Winston-Salem 7:00PM - No admission Winston-Salem Performances January 30, February 1 & 3, 2008 Stevens Center For tickets call (336) 721-1945 or Click Here to Purchase Tickets on line Behind the Scenes Monday, February 4, 2008 Fletcher Opera Theater Lobby, Progress Energy Center, Raleigh 6:00PM - No Admission Raleigh Performances February 8 & 10, 2008 A. J. Fletcher Opera Theater For tickets call (919) 834-400 or Click Here to Purchase Tickets on line
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Music by Antonín Dvorák. Libretto by Adolf Wenig, after a Czech folk-tale SYNOPSIS At the village fair, none of the boys will dance with Kate, because she never stops talking. In anger, she declares she would dance with the devil himself if he asked her. On cue, the Devil appears, in the form of Marbuel, a junior devil sent by Lucifer to investigate the cruelty of the local Princess and the man that runs her grounds, her steward. When he dances with Kate, she is so excited that she exclaims she could dance like that forever. Marbuel says if she went away with him, her wish could be granted. Kate agrees, and immediately they disappear through a hole in the floor. Her mother is distraught, but the shepherd Jirka volunteers to rescue her daughter. He has been fired after an argument with the steward, so with nothing more to lose, he jumps down the hole after them. When Marbuel arrives in Hell with Kate, she makes such an uproar that Lucifer is awakened from his bed. All the devils are afraid of her, so when Jirka arrives Marbuel promises to reward him if only he will take Kate back home!
The plan is this – Lucifer has sentenced the Princess to Hell, but the steward must be frightened into mending his ways and must treat the people that run the grounds more fairly. When Marbuel pretends to come for the steward, Jirka will chase him off, then be rewarded handsomely. But he is warned not to try and save the Princess. Jirka agrees, and the devils rejoice when he dances Kate out of Hell. The plan works well; Jirka “saves” the steward, and becomes the local hero. The Princess begs him to save her too, but he agrees only when she promises to abolish serfdom and give the people their freedom. Jirka lies in wait with Kate. When Marbuel comes to return with the Princess, he takes one look at Kate and runs away in terror. The Princess rewards both Jirka and Kate, and everyone rejoices. |