The Procession of the Nobles

1 Full Score - 1 SATB - 0 Koor - 3 Flute I - 3 Flute II - 2 Flute III - 1 Oboe I - 1 Oboe II - 1 English Horn - 2 Bassoon - 1 Contra Bassoon - 1 Clarinet Eb - 4 Clarinet I - 4 Clarinet II - 4 Clarinet III - 1 Alto Clarinet Eb - 1 Bass Clarinet - 1 Contrabass Clarinet - 2 Alto Saxophone I - 2 Alto Saxophone II - 2 Tenor Saxophone - 1 Baritone Saxophone - 2 Trumpet I - 2 Trumpet II - 2 Trumpet III - 2 Horn I + II Eb - 2 Horn I + II F - 2 Horn III + IV Eb - 2 Horn III + IV F - 2 Trombone I C - 1 Trombone I Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone I Bb (BC) - 2 Trombone II C - 1 Trombone II Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone II Bb (BC) - 2 Trombone III C - 1 Trombone III Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone III Bb (BC) - 1 Trombone Bass C - 2 Baritone C - 2 Baritone Bb (BC) - 2 Baritone Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (BC) - 2 Bas Eb (TC) - 2 Bas Eb (BC) - 4 Tuba C - 1 Stringbass - 1 Harp - 1 Percussion - 1 Timpani

The Procession of the Nobles is the best-known piece that survived an ambitious project which was never completed due to lack of money. No less than five composers, several orchestras, choirs and ballet schools were to participate in what should become an enormousshow-piece of comprehensive theatre. The project failed because of lack of sponsors and internal conflicts, but it provided this magnificent composition. Mlada tells the story of Princess Voislava who kills her friend Princess Mlada because she is in love with Mlada’s fiancé Prince Jaromir. Mlada’s spirit – personified by a female dancer – succeeds in convincing Jaromir in a dream of Voislava’s cruel act. Jaromir revenges himself. Morena, goddess of the underworld, invoked by Voislava to chase Mlada’s spirit, avenges the dying princess. An infernal storm brings death and destruction. In the final chorus of the opera the spirits of the deceased pay a tribute to the souls of the lovers Jaromir and Mlada united in death.