Filip Urban

The evening was masterly directed by Filip Urban evincing the finest orchestral talents of the ensemble in what is a very challenging score; his preparation and direction of Prokofiev's score was magnificent.

In Košice the opera was prepared for the first time by the young Czech conductor Filip Urban (b. 1995), a graduate of JAMU in Brno, like the director Beneš. He musically prepared Banevich's demanding score and conducted it at the premieres (and the preview) with great command, skilfully alternating the individual musical passages – apt in rhythm, harmony and melody – supporting the story and its dramatic climaxes in the demanding arias, duets and beautiful choral scenes. He handled the orchestral score constructively, lucidly and with emotional impact, even in situations where the choir sang from both sides of the auditorium.

Under the baton of Marek Šedivý at the premiere and Filip Urban at the repeat performance, the orchestra sounded full and precise, with rhythmic and intonational assurance, and the singing and acting of all the main characters were admirable.