JARMILA NOVOTNÁ, THE 20TH CENTURY OPERA STAR

Czech opera singer Jarmila Novotná was one of the most charming world-famous sopranos of the 20th century. She spent many years in exile but her love for Czechoslovakia stayed with her as she usually concluded her concerts with the national anthem.

JARMILA NOVOTNÁ, THE 20TH CENTURY OPERA STAR.

Jarmila Novotná (1907 – 1994), is a Czech opera singer, a soprano¹.She comes from Prague and becomes a star of the 20th century in her life.She sings in famous theatres in Vienna, Berlin, Salzburg and Milan.

But Jarmila must leave European theatres because of Nazi Germany.The Metropolitan Opera in New York is her home for a long time, she spends² sixteen years there.Jarmila is a big Czech patriot³ even in America.After her concerts, she sings the national anthem to support⁴ her country.Jarmila is also a beautiful woman.Many famous men are in love with her.

After the end of communism⁵ in 1989, Jarmila goes back to Czechoslovakia.She founds⁶ the Jarmila Novotná Award for young singers.She also writes a book about her own life, which is called “I Was Happy”.

Vocabulary: ¹sopranistka| ²trávit (čas)| ³vlastenec| ⁴podporovat| ⁵komunismus| ⁶založit
Language notes: become a star=stát se hvězdou|Nazi Germany=nacistické Německo|for a long
time=dlouhou dobu|national anthem=národní hymna|in love with=zamilovaný|Jarmila Novotná
Award=Cena Jarmily Novotné|I Was Happy=Byla jsem šťastná
Sources: zamekliten.cz| en.wikipedia.org.