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Dalibor

130

German, Czech

Synopsis

Based on a 15th‑century legend, the Czech knight Dalibor is imprisoned for leading a peasant revolt. In prison, he plays the violin so beautifully that the jailer’s sister, Milada, falls in love with him. However, the opera’s central emotional core is the intense male bonding between Dalibor and his friend (and fellow knight) Zdeněk, who tries to rescue him. Their loyalty and sacrifice for each other are portrayed with a depth that overshadows the heterosexual romance. The opera ends tragically with Dalibor’s execution.

Composer

Bedřich Smetana

Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright

Josef Wenzig (original German libretto); Czech translation by Ervín Špindler

Year of composition/publication / premiere

1868

Genre

Opera

LGBTQAI+ category

Gay

Level of centrality

Main character

Characters

Dalibor (knight), Zdeněk (his loyal friend)

Voice type

Baritone, Tenor

Pronouns

he/him

Publisher / Rights holder

Public domain

Where to buy / access the work

Performance rights

For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.