''The Death of Vlasta'' (Czech: Vlasty skon) is a 1903 opera by

Otakar Ostrčil Otakar Ostrčil (25 February 1879 in Prague – 20 August 1935 in Prague) was a Czech composer and conductor. He is noted for symphonic works ''Impromptu'', ''Suite in C Minor'', and ''Symfonietta'', and in his opera compositions '' Poupě'' and ' ...

. The story concerns Vlasta, leader of warriors in

The Maidens' War The Maidens' War () is a tale in Bohemian tradition about an uprising of women against men. According to legend, it occurred sometime in the 8th century. It first appeared in the twelfth-century '' Chronica Boemorum'' of Cosmas of Prague, and ...

legend and is connected to the subject matter of Smetana's ''

Libuše , Libussa, Libushe or, historically ''Lubossa'', is a legendary ancestor of the Přemyslid dynasty and the Czechs, Czech people as a whole. According to legend, she was the youngest but wisest of three sisters, who became queen after their father ...

'' and Fibich's '' Šárka'' (and later Janáček's ''Šárka''). Karel Pippich, author of the drama ''Vlasty skon: Dramatická báseň o třech jednáních, určená pro drama'' (1885), first offered the story to

Antonín Dvořák Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( ; ; 8September 18411May 1904) was a Czech composer. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia, following the Romantic-era nationalist example of his predec ...

, but he declined, so it was later accepted by Fibich's pupil Ostrčil. The opera was only performed six times.

Recordings

* Aria from Act 2 - "Aria of Vojmír to Vlasta", LP (1984); sung by bass Ivan Kusnjer

References

Czech-language operas operas 1903 operas {{opera-stub