On June 27 the Prague-based Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre premiered an experimental opera performance The Lists of Infinity by a composer Martin Smolka. This performance directed by Jiří Adámek, who is also the author of the libretto, is in fact a new version of a piece composed 2 years ago on a commission for the New Opera days Ostrava (NODO) festival.
Spoken rather than sung, the opera consists of listings, registers, catalogues and indices. It was inspired by The Infinity of Lists, a voluminous monography by Umberto Eco which is concerned with various types of lists and the strong human and societal urge to create them. The cast includes one countertenor and four speakers who are this time accompanied not by an orchestra but by a string quartet, harp and piano. For more information see the review by Miroslav Pudlák (available in Czech only): https://operaplus.cz/bludiste-seznamu-smolkova-a-adamkova-opera-v-nove-verzi/ . The three June performances which were completely sold out, will be followed by three more during the first half of November.
27 June 2016, Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre, Prague
further performances: June 28 and 29, November 6, 7 and 8 2016
Martin Smolka: The Lists of Infinity (premiere)
Libretto/directed by: Jiří Adámek
Speakers: Vendula Holičková, Bára Mišíková, Pavol Smolárik, Daniel Šváb
Countertenor: Jan Mikušek
Pavel Bořkovec Quartet (Alexej Aslamas, Ondřej Hás – violin, Matěj Kroupa – viola, Štěpán Drtina – cello)
Piano: Jana Holmanová
Harp: Hedvika Mousa Bacha