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.

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    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
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