The Jacobin

by Antonín Dvorák (1841 - 1904).
Opera in three acts. 1888. Revised version in 1897.
Libretto by Marie Cervinková-Riegrová.
First performance at the National Theatre, Prague, on 12th February 1889.

ACT I

Bohus returns to his native town with his wife Julie. He has been disowned by his father, Count Vilém, who thinks him a revolutionary, deceived by his nephew Adolf, now declared his heir. Filip, the Count's steward, has designs on Terinka, daughter of the choirmaster Benda. Terinka is in love with the young huntsman Jiri. The designs of Filip are finally frustrated, as are the machinations of Adolf, when the Count is persuaded by Julie of her husband's innocence.

There is an effective if brief prelude to the first act, a lively waltz. The second act is introduced by music that leads to a school-room scene that allows a love duet between Jirÿi and Terinka, while the third act ends with a choral ballet. The character of Benda, teacher and choirmaster, is said to have been modelled on the composer's own teacher at Zlonice, where he had spent part of his childhood.