The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-13
Dy0rdk'S ST. ludmiId
Will Be Given In May
oRAToRio PRESENTED BY CHOIR
Al SOCIETY TO BE BIG FEA-
TuRE OF FESTIVAL NEXT
SPRING..

St. Ludmila, an oratorio written by
Vrch1icky with the music composed
by Antonin Dvorak, will be the second
work to be presented by the Valley
City Choral society this year. This
oratorio will be given during the May
festival, in connection with q comic
opera and a series Of concerts by the
Minneapolis Symphony orchestra.
Mr.. Goodsell has pronounced st
'Ludmila one Of the most beautiful Of
oratorios. Vrchlicy has based the in.
cidents upon the early ufe Of st. hud.
mila, who was the daughter of Count
Slavidor Of Melnik, and who with her
husband, was converted to Christian
ity about the year 1874. Later, after
the death of her husband, Ludmi1a
was dethroned Through the fanatical
hatred Of Drahomira, her daughter-in-
law, and eventually strangled by two
of Drahomira's emmisaries. She was
canonized, and a festival is annually
celebrated in her honor in Bohemia.
Vrchlicky gives the story of the ora
torio ais beginning at the dawn of a
day in spring. The people assemble
at the castle of Melnik for the dedica-
ton of golden statue OF Bahia, cere.
mony in which Ludmila is to take the
chief part. During the festival a
Christian preacher. Ivan, appears up
on the scene, armed with what the
people take to be an axe, and passing
on unchecked and unhurt, he strikes
down the statute. The people al
though they utter vehement outcries,
are dismayed and overawed, but fin
ally, led by Ludn1ila herself, are
brought to accept the new faith
which Ivan proclaims.
In the second part, Ludmila with
her attendant Svatava, braves the
perils of the forests, in order to find
Ivan and be further taught by him. In
spite Of the fears and protests Of
Svatava, Ludmila presses on, and fin
ally lights upon cave in which a
hermit dwells, who further instructs
her in Christianity.
At this point, Vrchlicky introduces
Prince Borivoj and a hunting party,
who breaks in upon the hermit and
his companions and put them in great
fear. A miracle performed by Ivan,
the restoration to life, by means of
the sign of the cross, of hart which
the prince had killed with an arrow,
strikes the band with wonder and
they are as eager to abandon the
chase as they were before to pursue it.
Borivoj appears to be as much sub
dued by the beauty of Ludmila as by
the miracle of Ivan, and Immediately
expresses his desire to become
Christian. Ivan bids Ludmfla to un-
dertake his instruction and urges her
also to give him her hand in marriage.
The second part ends with a chorus
of rejoicing in which both men and
angels are supposed to sing.
The scene of the third part is laid
in the Cathedral of Velahrad where
the people gather to witness the bap.
tism and marriage of Borivoj and
Ludmila. The work closes with ample
expressions OF thankfulness and Joy
on the part of the people with pray.
ers for the welfare of the land of 30.
hemia.
-Four soloists are required for the
presentation Of the oratorio. Ludmila
sings the soprano parts; svatava the
alto; Borivoj the tenor; and Ivan the
bass solos. The society is already
hard at work on the oratorio.
ClIONAlNS TO HEAR ABOUT