''Jessika'' is a 1905 Czech-language opera by Josef Bohuslav Foerster to a

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

after Shakespeare's ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...

'' and named after the character Jessica in that play.Michael Neill, David Schalkwyk, ''The Oxford Handbook of Shakespearean Tragedy'', 2016, p. 749: "Above all, the playwright has inspired major works in the opera: Bedřich Smetana's unfinished ''

Viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

'' (1874‒83), J. B. Foerster's ''Jessika'' (1904),

Iša Krejčí Iša František Krejčí (10 July 1904 – 6 March 1968) was a Czech neoclassicist composer, conductor and dramaturge. Life Krejčí was born in Prague. He studied history and musicology at Charles University and concurrently piano playing wi ...

's ''

Pozdvižení v Efesu ''Pozdvižení v Efesu'' (Turmoil in Ephesus) is a Czech-language opéra bouffe by Iša Krejčí to a libretto by Josef Bachtík based on William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's ''The Comedy of Errors''. It was written from 1939 until 1943.Michael Neill ...

'' (The Turmoil in Ephesus, after ''The Comedy of Errors'', 1943), Karel ...

References

1905 operas Compositions by Josef Bohuslav Foerster Czech-language operas Operas Operas based on The Merchant of Venice {{opera-stub