Kovařovic, Karel

Kovařovic, Karel, noted Czech conductor and composer; b. Prague, Dec. 9, 1862; d. there, Dec. 6, 1920. He studied clarinet, harp, and piano at the Prague Cons. (1873–79), and also composition privately with Fibich (1878–80). He was harpist in the orch. of Prague’s National Theater (1879–85), and also was director of Pivoda’s Vocal School (1880–1900). In 1900 he was appointed opera director of the National Theater in Prague, a position he held until his death; he also led sym. concerts in Prague. As a conductor, he demonstrated great craftsmanship and established a high standard of excellence in his operatic productions; his interpretations of Dvořák and Smetana were particularly notable; an ardent believer in the cause of Czech music, he promoted national compositions. In his own music, he also made use of national materials, but his treatment was mostly imitative of the French models; the influences of Gounod and Massenet are particularly noticeable. He publ. some of his lighter works under a series of humorously misspelled names of French composers (C. Biset, J. Héral, etc.).

Works

dramatic: Opera (all 1^st perf. in Prague): Ženichové (The Bridegrooms; May 13, 1884); Cesta oknem (Through the Window; Feb. 11, 1886); Noc èimona a Judy (The Night of Simon and Jude; original title, Frasquita; Nov. 5, 1892); Psohlavci (The Dog-Heads; April 24, 1898); Na starém bélidle (At the Old Bleaching-House; Nov. 22, 1901). Ballet: Hashish (June 19, 1884); Pohâdka o nalezeném Stesti (A Tale of Found Happiness; Dec. 21, 1886); Na zaletech (Flirtation; Oct. 24, 1909). other: Symphonic works, including Piano Concerto (1887); chamber pieces, including 3 string quartets (1878, 1887, 1894).

Bibliography

J. NěmeČek, Opera Národniho divadla za Karla Ko-vafovice (Prague, 1968-69).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire