 THE BARTERED BRIDE
Opera in 3 acts by Bedrich Smetana. Text by Kazel Sabina.
Premiered Prague National Theatre 30 May, 1866; revised 1869 final version produced 1870. English version at Sadlers Well 1935.
The Bartered Bride is a national institution in the Czech
Republic but has assumed the mantel of folk opera outside Smetana's
homeland.
The Story:
It is spring in a Bohemian village and holiday time. The villagers
gather to celebrate the festive occasion. Marenka and Jenik do
not join in the gaiety as Marenka's parents have arranged a rich
marriage for her although she loves the impecunious Jenik.
Marenka's parents are being persuaded by Kecal, a marriage broker,
that their daughter should wed the son of Tobias Micha. Kruschina,
Marenka's father knows Micha but thought there were two sons, not
one as claimed by Kecal. In fact one son by Micha's first marriage
has disappeared and is now presumed dead. Ludmilla, Marenka's mother
is unconvinced and believes Marenka should choose for herself.
Marenka informs her parents and the marriage broker she has become
engaged to Jenik and doesn't accept the marriage contract drawn
up by her parents and the marriage broker.
It is against this background that the story of love, arranged
and unarranged, is played with a great deal of bargaining on all
sides, especially Kecal who is assured of a good commission should
he succeed in his objective. He doesn't.
Relationships and assignations are put to the test against the
carnival atmosphere in the village with the inevitable happy ending,
although not quite as expected.
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