Jitka Svobodová

Soprano Jitka Svobodová graduated from the Prague Conservatory with Professor Marta Boháčová whose consultations she has been taking until the present. Jitka Svobodová won the first prize in the International Competition of M. Schneider-Trnavský in Trnava, Slovakia, came second in the Antonín Dvořák Contest in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) and made it into the semi-finals of Luciano Pavarotti’s International Competition. After graduation she was engaged as soloist of the opera of J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen making a striking appearance in many roles – e.g. Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Jitka (Dalibor), Mařenka (Hänsel und Gretel), Rusalka, the Swan (The Tale of Tsar Saltan) and Mirandolina by Martinů. She could fully develop her singing and acting talent in Prague where she accepted an engagement at Prague State Opera in 1991. There she sang Adina (L’elisir d’amore), Liu (Turandot), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Madeline (The Fall of the House of Usher) and Marguerite (Faust). From 2003 she ranks among the prominent soloists of Prague National Theatre where she appeared e.g. as Mařenka (The Bartered Bride), Rusalka, Countess (The Devil and Kate), Krasava (Libuše), Jenůfa, Hedvika (The Devil’s Wall), Málinka (The Excursions of Mr. Brouček), Catherine (The Greek Passion), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), 1st Lady (Die Zauberflöte). She also sang in TV productions of Dvořák’s operas – as Liduška (The King and Charcoal-Burner), Lenka (The Stubborn Lovers) and Agrafena Světlova in Brothers Karamazov by Otakar Jeremiáš. Jitka Svobodová recorded a CD for the DECCA Company where she sang the main female role of Amranta in The Charlatan, an opera by Pavel Haas. She guest-sang the role of Rusalka in Bratislava and in Bielefeld, Germany. In 2002 she appeared in Sankt Gallen as Karolka (Jenůfa) under the baton of Jiří Kout. Jitka Svobodová co-operates with a number of other prominent conductors such as Sir Charles Mackerras, Ascher Fisch, Jiří Bělohlávek, Petr Vronský, Ondrej Lenárd and more. As Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), 1st Lady and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) she has been singing for the auditoriums in Japan for several years now. The US tour presented her in the role of Rosalinda. In 2007 she co-operated with Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gerard Schwarz as part of the Prague Autumn Festival. From this season on the spectators of Prague State Opera can see her in the title role of Aida by Verdi.