Search - Vaclav Bednar, Bedrich Smetana, Zdenek Chalabala :: Smetana:The Devil's Wall

Fine performances of a fine work

G.D. | Norway | 12/05/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Devil's Wall is Smetana's last completed opera. The plot is rather complicated, so suffice to say it is a comic-romantic drama with, despite some rather dull and workmanlike passages, several interesting and beautiful parts - especially those given to the Lord of Rosenberg as sung, wonderfully, by Vaclav Bednar.



In fact, most of the roles are filled by very able singers - Milada Subrtova is fine as Hedvika and both Libuse Domaninska and Ivo Zidek deliver well-sung roles as well. I am less sure about Antonin Votava, but that may be in part because his role of Michalek contains less striking music. Chalabala's conducting is good as always, and despite being almost 50 years old, the sound is very good - far better than, say, on the later Brandenburgers in Bohemia set under Tichy.



All in all this is a very recommendable recording of what is perhaps not Smetana's best opera, but a very worthwhile one nonetheless."