Saint Ludmila (oratorio)

Dvořák turned to typical Czech and Slavonic themes during this time in order to support the national movement, although he was approached by his German publisher Simrock to depart from patriotic themes and instead create works based on world famous literary works.

The first performance was not well received; the work was criticised for its length, its Czech theme and also for its alleged musical dependence on George Frideric Handel, Felix Mendelssohn, Richard Wagner, Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Saint Ludmila was premiered in Prague in 1901, and the first performance with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra took place on 3 April 1904.

[6] In November 1954 the Czech Philharmonic with Karel Šejna performed the work at two concerts in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House in Prague.

The first performance in the 21st century was given in 2004, one hundred years after Dvořák's death, with the Czech Philharmonic and conductor Jiří Bělohlávek.

Prince Rastislav of Moravia asked the brothers Cyril and Methodius of Thessalonica to spread Christianity in his country.

The hermit Ivan accepts the task of missionary, his eloquence winning over Ludmila, the Bohemian princess.

The finale is festive and pompous with a statement of the ancient Czech chorale "Hospodine, pomiluj ny" ("Mighty Lord, have mercy upon us") which dates from about the eleventh century.

The title page of the autograph score of Dvořák's Saint Ludmila with inscription in the author's hand: "I conducted the first performance of ‘Saint Ludmila’ at the music festival in Leeds on October 16, 1886." [ 1 ] Nevertheless, the first performance took place on October 15, 1886. The note in the score is inaccurate. [ 2 ] [ 3 ]
The image of Saint Ludmila from a stained glass window at St. Ludmila's Church, Cedar Rapids , Iowa .
Antonín Dvořák with his wife Anna in London, 1886