Latest news with #Dalibor
New York Times
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Dalibor' Review: A Gently Ravishing Score, an Awkward Plot
Bedrich Smetana's 'Dalibor' is the kind of opera that companies like to present in concert. With a gently ravishing score and a static, awkward plot, Smetana's third opera benefits some from a composer's name recognition even though the work itself has none. Why bother with the cost of a full staging? It's all the more impressive, then, that a new production at the Fisher Center at Bard College for the school's SummerScape festival on Friday was dramatically cogent and musically satisfying. Doubly impressive given that it was the work's stage premiere in the United States. A strong cast and creative team argued persuasively for the opera's gleaming orchestrations and sumptuous vocal lines, and they even filled some plot holes along the way. With a protagonist loosely based on a medieval, violin-playing nobleman from Czech history, 'Dalibor,' which premiered in 1868, failed to resonate with Czech audiences who were looking for the nationalistic subject matter or folk strains of Smetana's first two operas. On top of that, the work contains little in the way of stagecraft. Expedient plot twists and narration-filled monologues yank the action along. Romantic-era clichés abound: A woman redeems a righteous yet imperfect hero with her forgiveness and personal sacrifice, and they perish in a quick, Wagner-esque love-death that pales next to 'Tristan und Isolde,' which had its premiere three years earlier. The libretto by Josef Wenzig (who also wrote Smetana's 'Libuse') spins a tall tale about Dalibor, here a knight, and his white-hot charisma. Before the opera begins, his dearest friend, the musician Zdenek, is executed, and Dalibor has already avenged his death. Milada, the sister of Dalibor's victim, testifies against him, and then, utterly taken with his moral rectitude, immediately falls in love with him. But Dalibor is so preoccupied with Zdenek's death that other characters, including his future love interest, barely register with him. Graciously written vocal parts, touching if simple motifs and rousing choruses (deftly handled by the Bard Festival Chorale under James Bagwell) make 'Dalibor' an easy listen. But the audience has to take Dalibor's personal allure on faith: Smetana lacked Wagner's ability to spin enchanting auras around godlike personae like Lohengrin or rugged, purehearted heroes like Siegfried. Smetana further muddied the opera's love story by having Dalibor sing rapturously of Zdenek and tepidly of Milada. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Wall Street Journal
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘Dalibor' Review: At Bard, Beauty From Behind Bars
Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. This year's opera rarity at Bard SummerScape, in Dutchess County, is Bedřich Smetana's 'Dalibor' (1868), running through Aug. 3, a tuneful Romantic work hampered by a creaky, static libretto that was translated from German into Czech. The title character, a 15th-century knight with a popular following, spends the opera imprisoned for killing a government official in revenge for the execution of his beloved friend, the musician Zdeněk. Milada, the official's sister, first demands Dalibor's blood from the king but then falls in love with him and plots his rescue—there's a 'Fidelio'-type adventure with Milada disguising herself as a boy to get into the prison. It doesn't end happily.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's Pride Parade will have more security and has lost some sponsorships this year
Milwaukee's Pride Parade is taking extra precautions this year and hiring a security group for its June 8 event in Walker's Point. A parade organizer also confirmed that some sponsors are not returning this year. "With the climate being the way that it is right now, there is a heightened sense of anxiety, and we want to make sure that people feel safe and confident to come out," said Heidi Dalibor, chair of the Pride Parade board. "There's been an exceptional amount of hate against the trans community, there's gay marriage that is trying to be taken away from people again ... there's a lot of negative energy out there, and we want to make sure people can show up in a big way." She said the security team they hired has worked at Bastille Days and other large events around Milwaukee. She said the parade also will work with the Milwaukee Police Department, like they have in years past. The parade committee also will have an information tent and posters around the route with information on where people can go if they need to report an incident. "I don't want to create fear around extra security measures, but we want people to understand that it could feel different," she said, noting that harassment of LGBTQ+ people is not new, "but we want to make sure that we are doing something to make sure everyone can feel safe, even if it means spending more money." While security costs are going up, Dalibor said some bigger sponsors have dropped out. She would not say which sponsors were not planning to return, but Pride Parade recently updated its website with its 2025 sponsor list so far. Sponsors have until May 10 to sign up. Gold sponsors that were on last year's list but not yet on the 2025 list include Beer Capitol Distributing, Quad Graphics, CBS 58, Telemundo, 102.1 FM and Planned Parenthood. Wantable is a new gold sponsor this year, along with returning Kohl's and OnMilwaukee. Gold sponsors make a $2,000 donation to the parade. Silver sponsors, which give a $1,000 donation, that have not yet returned include First Business Bank, Northern Ground, Goodwill, GE Health Care, IKEA, Kohler, Summit Credit Union, Bank of America, Vivent Health, AIDS Walk Wisconsin, Teladoc Health, Milliman and Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. Rockwell Automation is the only silver sponsor that has been announced so far. Dalibor said she believed sponsors dropping out was a combination of both the economy and the increased scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. "Everything is very volatile right now," she said. "This is not something that's new, but it's a little more contentious this year than in recent years." Dalibor said it was too early to know how the number of parade participants would compare to previous years. In 2024, the parade had a record number of more than 200 entrants. "It's more important that ever to show visibility and support," she said. "We're also looking for volunteers if people want to be a part of something positive and exciting." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's Pride Parade will have more security in 2025
