Musicologica Olomucensia

The article explores how Bedřich Smetana’s national-historical operas functioned as media for transmitting of political messages in 19th-century Bohemia. The study examines The Brandenburgers in Bohemia and Libuše and aims to demonstrate how Smetana and his librettists intentionally embedded political discourse that drew on national history, myth, and current events. In The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, historical trauma associated with the ­13th-century Brandenburg occupation provided a framework to address themes of oppression, national unity, and resistance, which in turn resonated with ­19th-century experiences of national struggle. When dealing with Libuše, the article highlights elements of the opera that reinforce ideas of the continuity of Bohemian statehood, legal autonomy, and democratic traditions. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of potential political interpretations of the opera’s finale, the scene of Libuše’s prophecy, whose function was – especially if seen against the backdrop of Franz Josef’s unfulfilled promises to Bohemia – to celebrate the most glorious rulers and events from the time of the national rulers, and to emphasize the persistence of the Czech people. Through the elements mentioned, both operas sought to mobilize patriotic sentiments within the 19th-century theatre audience.

Keywords: Bedřich Smetana; opera; politics; The Brandenburgers in Bohemia; Libuše