Nina Milotová
‘So long as nations and minstrels sing...’ The well-concealed work of Ervín Špindler
In this study the author focuses on the work of writer, poet, journalist, translator, outstanding orator, Young Czech deputy and mayor of Roudnice nad Labem Ervín Špindler (1843–1918), which was not revealed as his at the time. With regard to the way in which the author's identity was made public, it is possible to divide Špindler's work into three types. In addition to works that Špindler published under his own name or under the pseudonym Jaroslav Květenský, there were also works whose co-authorship by Špindler had to remain a secret. Hence the present text focuses primarily on his share in the creation of Bedřich Smetana's operas Dalibor and Libuše, for which the existence of originally German librettos could not be acknowledged within the context of the Czech national movement at that time. The focus is also on the creative process behind these operas, the collaboration with the composer, the author of the original German librettos Josef Wenzig and the translator of these librettos into Czech Ervín Špindler. In addition to Špindler's authorial role on these two Smetana operas the author also refers in the bibliography to the previously unknown fact that Špindler played a role in the creation of the opera by Karel Richard Šebora Nevěsta husitská (The Hussite Bride). However, this time Špindler, who translated its original German libretto by Eduard Rüffer, initiated the concealment of his co-authorship himself due to the insufficient quality of the actual work.
Bedřich Smetana – opera composition – librettos
design by Bedřich Vémola
