The Bartered Bride

Bedřich Smetana

Changes to the summer 2024 program

The Bartered Bride, which was scheduled for Saturday 3 August, has been brought forward to Thursday 1 August because of the schedule reasons. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these changes. If you have a ticket for the performance on Saturday, August 3rd, please see detailed instructions here.

__

Witty and sharp, expressive and danceable for the whole family, The Bartered Bride is a part of the Czech DNA. Audiences at the National Theatre Opera, Prague keep coming back to laugh (at it and at themselves) over and over again. There have already been 21 different productions by this opera company alone.  

A witty and sharp story about the struggle for true love.

The story is about the struggle for true love in an idyllic rural setting. Film and theatre director Alice Nellis has added a hilarious extra dimension: the production also takes a humorous look at how this national musical treasure has been adapted for the stage over almost 160 years. Thus, in addition to the love story, we witness the birth of a captivating operatic performance, complete with rehearsals. What is it like behind the scenes, and can the director impose his will and manage to create something new? 

Performed by our visiting opera company the National Theatre Opera, Prague.

How does the plot of The Bartered Bride unfold? Read the synopsis here.

ONE OF EUROPE’S GREATEST OPERA HOUSES AS A GUEST

Our guest – Národní divadlo, the National Theatre Opera, Prague – is one of Europe’s great opera houses. Its story is part of European history, through the Nazi occupation and communism. Even in challenging times, its spirit has retained a special appeal.  

When the the National Theatre Opera, Prague visited the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 1991, the company’s dramaturge told Helsingin Sanomat: ‘Many international singers visit Prague. The Prague Opera, however, has no foreign currency with which to pay them. But that’s not a problem, because visiting singers don’t even want money in the current situation. They just want to sing in the Prague Opera that they love.’ 

Times have changed, but the love remains.  

Team

  • Conductor

    Jaroslav Kyzlink

  • Director

    Alice Nellis

  • Set and lighting designer

    Matěj Cibulka

  • Costume designer

    Kateřina Štefková

  • Choreographer

    Klára Lidová

  • Video designer

    Michal Mocňák

  • Dramaturge

    Ondřej Hučín

  • Chorus master

    Lukáš Kozubík

  • National Theatre Chorus, Prague
    National Theatre Orchestra, Prague
    National Theatre Opera Ballet, Prague

     

  • Silent roles

    Director / Martin Kubačák
    Costume designer / Gabriela Pyšná
    Choreographer / Klára Lidová
    Mischievous monkey / Zdanek Horváth 

  • Trampoline acrobats

    Kryštof Bäumelt
    Petr Dufek
    David Pilpach

  • Language

    Czech

  • Surtitles

    Finnish and English

  • Duration

    approx. 3 hrs, incl. two intervals

Cast

Barbora Perná
Mařenka 30.7. & 1.8.
Alžběta Poláčková
Mařenka 27.7.
Markéta Klaudová
Mařenka 2
More
Richard Samek
Jeník 30.7. & 1.8.
More
Peter Berger
Jeník 27.7.
Zdeněk Plech
Kecal 27.7.
Jiří Sulženko
Kecal 27.7.
Josef Moravec
Vašek
Maria Kobielska
Ludmila / Esmeralda
Jiři Hájek
Krušina / Indian
Yvona Škvárová
Háta
František Zahradníček
Mícha
Tomáš Kořínek
Circus Master
Subscribe to newsletter