Marta Beňačková
Encyclopedia
Marta Beňačková is a Slovak
mezzo-soprano
who has had an active performing career since the 1970s in concerts, opera
s, and recitals.
, the Prague Symphony, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra
, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
, and the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
among other ensembles.
On the opera stage, Beňačková has particularly excelled in portraying roles in operas by Verdi and Puccini. She has sung a number of roles with the Prague State Opera
, including Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera
with conductor Martin Turnovský
and the title role in Antonio Vivaldi
's Orlando Furioso
. She has also appeared several times at the National Theatre
in Prague
, portraying roles like the Countess in The Queen of Spades
and the Witch in Dvořák
‘s Rusalka
.
Beňačková is currently on the music faculty at the Bratislava Conservatory. She is not related to the famous soprano Gabriela Beňačková
.
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
who has had an active performing career since the 1970s in concerts, opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s, and recitals.
Biography
Beňačková attended the Bratislava Conservatory where she earned a degree in piano performance. She pursued further studies in singing at the Slovakia: Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (VŠMU). She began her career as a member of the ancient music ensemble Musica Aeterna. She left the group to pursue a solo career, and has since performed in a wide array of works from the concert repertoire that encompasses symphonic, oratorio and vocal pieces from the 17th through the 21st centuries. She has appeared in concert with the Czech Philharmonic OrchestraCzech Philharmonic Orchestra
The Česká filharmonie is a symphony orchestra based in Prague and is the best-known and most respected orchestra in the Czech Republic.- History :...
, the Prague Symphony, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Czech National Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Prague in the Czech Republic. It was established in 1993 by trumpet player Jan Hasenöhrl...
, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (SOCR)
The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra is based in Prague in the Czech Republic.- History :Regular radio broadcasting began in the Czech Republic in May, 1923. Live classical musical broadcasts became very popular...
, and the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
The Slovenská filharmónia is a symphony orchestra in Bratislava, Slovakia.Founded in 1949, the orchestra has resided since the 1950s in the Baroque era Reduta Bratislava concert hall constructed in 1773...
among other ensembles.
On the opera stage, Beňačková has particularly excelled in portraying roles in operas by Verdi and Puccini. She has sung a number of roles with the Prague State Opera
Prague State Opera
The Prague State Opera , is an opera and ballet company in Prague, Czech Republic. The theatre was originally founded in 1888 as the New German Theatre and from 1949 to 1989 it was known as the Smetana Theatre....
, including Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera
Un ballo in maschera
Un ballo in maschera , is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma. The libretto is loosely based on an 1833 play, Gustave III, by French playwright Eugène Scribe who wrote about the historical assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden...
with conductor Martin Turnovský
Martin Turnovský
Martin Turnovský is a Czech conductor.-Biography:Turnovský was born in Prague. His father was familiar with the conductor George Szell, who helped in the beginnings of Turnovský's career. During World War II, at the age of 16, Turnovský was imprisoned in German concentration camp, due to his...
and the title role in Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
's Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form until 1532...
. She has also appeared several times at the National Theatre
National Theatre (Prague)
The National Theatre in Prague is known as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and maintained by the most distinguished...
in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, portraying roles like the Countess in The Queen of Spades
The Queen of Spades (opera)
The Queen of Spades, Op. 68 is an opera in 3 acts by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to a Russian libretto by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, based on a short story of the same name by Alexander Pushkin. The premiere took place in 1890 in St...
and the Witch in Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
‘s Rusalka
Rusalka (opera)
Rusalka is an opera by Antonín Dvořák. The Czech libretto was written by the poet Jaroslav Kvapil based on the fairy tales of Karel Jaromír Erben and Božena Němcová. Rusalka is one of the most successful Czech operas, and represents a cornerstone of the repertoire of Czech opera houses...
.
Beňačková is currently on the music faculty at the Bratislava Conservatory. She is not related to the famous soprano Gabriela Beňačková
Gabriela Benacková
Gabriela Beňačková is a Slovak soprano.She specializes in the music of her compatriots, particularly Eugen Suchoň, as well as Czech composers, notably Bedřich Smetana and Leoš Janáček. She is considered to be one of the greatest 'Jenufa's' in Janáček's opera of the same name...
.