PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Kopecký, Jiří TI - Michael William Balfe on the Olomouc Operatic Scene DP - 2012 Dec 11 TA - Musicologica Olomucensia PG - 63--72 VI - 16 IP - 2 AID - 10.5507/mo.2012.011 IS - 27879186 AB - If we survey the history of theatre life in 19th-century Olomouc, there is only a small number of directors who were able to lead their institution in a better way than was the case in other provincial scenes in the Austrian (Austro-Hungarian) monarchy. One of the most successful theatre entrepreneur in Olomouc was Friedrich Blum, who introduced into the repertoire new famous operas such as Verdi's Rigoletto or one of the most challenging performance of the age, Meyerbeer's Le Prophète. Among those compositions which were performed remarkably often, we encounter Balfe's The Bohemian Girl. Blum obviously had a very good sense for successful works, moreover he engaged singers-/actors, who were perfectly matched to Balfe's roles.