Most people have heard selections form Bedrich Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride,” but this week’s Sunday Opera (6/14 3:00 p.m.) will give listeners the change to enjoy the entire work in a live performance from the Vienna State Opera.
The libretto is by Karel Sabina and is regarded as one of the major contributions to the creation of “Czech” music. It was written between 1863 and 1866 and was first performed in Prague in May of 1866. The gentle comedy proves love can overcome the ambitions of overbearing parents and a scheming marriage broker.
During a festive church fair in Bohemia in the mid-19th century, Mařenka (Slavka Zamecnikova) is deeply distressed. Her parents (Krusina – Franz Xaver Schlect & Ludmila – Margaret Plummer), pressed by debts to the wealthy landowner Tobiáš Mícha (Ivo Stanchev), have arranged for her to marry Mícha’s stuttering, timid son, Vašek (Michael Laurenz). Mařenka loves an outsider named Jeník (Pavol Breslik), and she vows to her parents and the pompous marriage broker, Kecal (Peter Kellner), that she will marry no one but Jeník.
The meddling broker Kecal tries to bribe Jeník into abandoning Mařenka using 300 guilders. Jeník surprisingly accepts the money. However, he adds a strict condition to the contract: Mařenka may legally only marry Mícha's son
The villagers are disgusted that Jeník has "sold" his bride. Meanwhile, Mařenka disguises herself and flirts with Vašek, convincing him that his intended bride (Mařenka) is a violent monster so he will reject her.
A traveling circus sets up camp, and the naive Vašek falls head over heels for Esmeralda (Ilia Staple), a circus dancer. The circus folk trick Vašek into dressing up as a dancing bear for their show. Heartbroken, Mařenka initially agrees to marry Vašek. But before the wedding, Jeník reveals his master plan to Mícha and the village: he is actually Jan, Mícha’s long-lost older son from his first marriage whom his stepmother had cast out.
Because Jeník is, in fact, Mícha’s son, the contract is fully met. Mařenka happily embraces Jeník, Vašek gets to run off with his circus performer, and true love triumphs.
Other members of the cast include Matthaus Schmidlechner and Alex Ilvakhin. Tomas Hanus is the conductor, and he’s leading the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Since we have over an hour that we can fill after the opera, stay tuned and join Michael Kownacky for the very familiar work by Smetana, “Ma Vlast.” Instead of the two selections usually heard as excerpts, we’ll hear all six tone poems that have been cobbled together in this symphonic gem. This performance features the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Tomas Kucher.
