The Bartered Bride
- Kruschina [ Krušina ], a farmer, father of Marie (baritone )
- Katinka [ Ludmila ], his wife, mother of Marie (Alt )
- Marie [ Mařenka ] (Soprano)
- Micha [ Mícha ], a rich farmer ( bass)
- Agnes [ hata ], whose wife (mezzo- soprano)
- Wenzel [ Vasek ], son of Micah, and Agnes (Tenor)
- Hans [ Jeník ], Micah's son from his first marriage ( Tenor)
- Kezal [ Kecal ], a matchmaker (bass buffo )
- Springer [ Principal ], Ringmaster (Tenor)
- Esmeralda [ Esmeralda ], dancer (soprano )
- Muff [ Indián ], comedian (Tenor)
- Compatriots (chorus )
The Bartered Bride ( Czech Prodaná nevěsta ) is an opera in three acts by Bedřich Smetana ( 1824-1884 ). The plot, based on a libretto by Karel Sabina, set in a village in Bohemia in the 19th century. The game technically highly demanding overture leads rapidly into the game's plot. It is often together with the Furiant heard in symphony concerts.
Action
In a Bohemian village fair is celebrated. The young Marie, however, is sad. You want the stupid, but rich Wenzel married, even though her heart belongs to the Hans. She swears her eternal fidelity Hans. The told her that he was driven by an evil step-mother out of the house; that he and Wenzel stepbrothers are, however, he does not tell.
Marie's father and the matchmaker come with the marriage contract. Marie steadfastly refused their consent. Her mother Katinka support her daughter.
The afflicted with a speech impediment Wenceslas sitting meanwhile at the inn. He has never seen Marie and so it is for this easy to get into conversation with him, and to portray him his future bride in the blackest colors. It comes to the point that Wenzel wants " as a " no longer have. The matchmaker has meanwhile completed with Hans a treaty that will take this " out of the race ."
For 300 guilders Hans waives Marie, but on the condition that Marie may only marry a son of Micah - Micah is the common father of Hans and Wenzel, which of course no one knows. All who hear of the contract, are outraged by the " sale of the Bride".
A little later, a circus comes to the village. Wenzel, the pleasure is passed on marriages, has his eye on the dancer Esmeralda. For her sake, it can be stuck in a dancing bear costume and becomes the laughing stock of the bystanders.
Marie has now heard about the " sale of the Bride" and is disappointed by Hans arg. You would now agree even in a marriage to Wenzel.
Since Wenceslas father appears and recognizes in his Hans -lost son from his first marriage. Overjoyed Marie can now perform the contract to marry a son of Micah.
Well-known arias
Well-known arias, ensembles and dances:
- "Everything is as good as right"
- Aria of Marie " Gladly will I trust you "
- Duet Marie - Hans "The mother sank to the grave "
- Duet Marie - Wenceslas "I know you love a treasure"
- Duet Kezal - Hans " Come, my son, to a word"
- "Who kindled in love "
- Aria of Hans " We must succeed "
- Duet Esmeralda - Springer ( ringmaster ) " Everything goes clockwork "
- Aria of Marie " How strange and dead is all about "
- Hans Duet - Marie " My dear sweetheart, now watch out! "
- Sextet " For a little while yet, Marie"
- Furiant
Complete recordings (selection)
- Chorus and Orchestra of the National Theatre under Zdeněk Chalabala with Drahomira Tikalowá, Ivo Zidek, Olrich Kovar, Vaclav Bednar, Supraphon 1959
- RIAS Chamber Chorus, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under Rudolf Kempe with Pilar Lorengar, Fritz Wunderlich, Karl -Ernst Gottlob Frick and Mercker ( German ) EMI 1962
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Prague under Zdenek Košler with Gabriela Beňačková, Peter Dvorsky, Miroslav Kopp and Richard Novák, Supraphon 1981
- Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Semi-staged production in German language, Styriarte 2011