THE DEVIL AND KATE Dvořák – Slovak National Theatre

Nobody wants to dance with the quirky and a little cheeky Káča (Kate) at a party. Angry, she declares that she would dance with the Devil. So when he arrives as the dashing Marbuelo, she is swept off her feet down to hell. With the help of the clever Shepherd Jirka, will Káča make it back to earth? Might the Devil actually be relieved to see the back of his garrulous and feisty visitor?

Dvořák wrote The Devil and Kate just before Rusalka at the height of his powers as an orchestral composer and at a period of keen interest in fairytale and mythological themes. There is much purely instrumental music partly justified by the story with its emphasis on dancing in the Act I pub scene and in hell. There are also surprisingly long scene-preludes, including a striking descent to a Nibelheim-like hell at the beginning of Act II. It is one of the few Czech operas to lack love interest altogether: Káca declares at the end of Act III that, now she has been richly rewarded for scaring off the Devil, she will be able to afford any bridegroom she likes. The Devil and Kate is one of Dvořák’s most popular operas in his home lands and is based on a fairy tale by Božena Němcová. Most Czech devils are comically incompetent; Marbuel is especially so, and is worsted by one of the most assertive of all the strong women depicted in Czech opera. This joyous story full of movement and humour is staged by young director Zuzana Fischer, beautifully blending traditional fairytale and contemporary worlds, in OperaVision’s first stream from Slovakia - in the National Theatre’s new venue in Bratislava.

Full performance streamed on OperaVision from 14 March 2025 at 19:00 CET to 14 September 2025 at 12:00 CET: https://operavision.eu/performance/devil-and-kate

CAST

Kate
Katarína Hano Flórová

Kate’s mother
Jitka Sapara Fischerová

Shepherd Jirka
Peter Račko

Devil Marbuel
Michal Onufer

Princess
Jolana Fogašová

Lucifer
Peter Mikuláš

Chambermaid
Andrea Vizvári

Devil Porter
Martin Morháč

Devil Watchman
Vladimir Streltsov

Musician
Jiří Zouhar

Marshal
Vladimir Streltsov

Chamberlain
Emil Leeger

Orchestra
SND Opera Orchestra

Chorus
SND Opera Chorus

Music
Antonín Dvořák

Text
Adolf Wenig

Conductor
Jaroslav Kyzlink

Director
Zuzana Fischer

Sets & Costumes
David Janošek

Lights
Daniel Tesař
Jan Tranta

Choreography
Tereza Kmotorková
Zuzana Lisoňová

Chorus Master
Zuzana Kadlčíková

Dramaturgy
Jozef Červenka

OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme. Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

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