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Růžena Vykoukalová-Bradáčová, as the Countess in The Queen of Spades

Růžena Vykoukalová-Bradáčová

Czech operatic mezzo-soprano (b. 27 June 1868 in Kostelec nad Černými lesy; d. 18 October 1921 in Prague).

She performed the role of the Countess at the first production at the National Theatre in Prague of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades (30 September/12 October 1892). Tchaikovsky, who attended this performance, "of all the members of the cast liked most of all Mme Bradačeva-Vykouvalová, who displayed the talent of a great dramatic actress in her interpretation of the role of the Queen of Spades [i.e. the Countess]" [1]. At her request Tchaikovsky sent her his photograph on 4/16 November 1892 and in the accompanying letter asked her in turn to provide him with a photograph of herself in the role of the Countess (letter 4796). The singer duly replied from Prague on 7 February 1893 [N.S.]:

"Dear Sir,

Please receive a thousand thanks for your kindness. By presenting me with your autograph you have made me indescribably happy. I shall cherish it with profound respect as a valuable keepsake and ask you, dear maestro, to accept from me the enclosed photographs as a faint token of my gratitude for the role in your incomparable opera The Queen of Spades, in whose cast I had the honour of appearing, much as I was unworthy of such an honour.

With the very greatest admiration, your devoted

Růžena Vykouvalová,
member of the National Opera in Prague" [2]

Tchaikovsky's correspondence with Růžena Vykoukalová-Bradáčová:

• 2 letters from Tchaikovsky to Růžena Vykoukalová-Bradáčová have survived, dating from 1892 to 1893.

Notes:

1. Modest Tchaikovsky, Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 3 (1997), p. 506 [back]
2. This letter is included in: Чайковский и зарубежные музыканты (1970), p.178 [back]