Seeking a Libretto

Driven by necessity, Smetana sought to establish himself in Prague through concerts, but his primary artistic goal was opera. Finding a suitable libretto, however, proved challenging, as Czech authors had little experience in the genre. With the help of Procházka, as Smetana notes in his diary, he eventually obtained an operatic text from Karel Sabina. The resulting work, The Brandenburgers in Bohemia (Braniboři v Čechách), is a three-act opera set in the late thirteenth century, when the Czech lands were occupied by Otto of Brandenburg. Eager to begin, Smetana completed the first act by late February 1862 and played it for Procházka, who praised the entire act. Sabina, the librettist, was one of the most intriguing Czech writers of the time. Although he initially studied philosophy and law, he later dedicated himself to writing and journalism. A pioneer of Czech literature, Sabina wrote realistic village novels and short stories about the Czech spiritual revival, promoting the ideals of fraternity, progress, and humanity.

Sabina's Libretto

The Brandenburgers in Bohemia dramatizes a romantic, yet improbable plot based on a historical episode from around 1280, with echoes of other key moments in Czech history, especially 1939. The narrative unfolds after the sudden death of Czech King Ottokar II (r. 1253–78). In the aftermath, Duke Otto of Brandenburg becomes regent and guardian to the young heir Wenceslaus II