The Bartered Bride
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The Bartered Bride (in Czech, Prodaná nevěsta) is the second opera of eight by Bedřich Smetana. It is a comedy. The Czech libretto is by Karel Sabina.
There are four versions. The original version (1863–66) is in two acts, as is the first revision of 1869; the second revision, also of 1869, is in three acts, and the definitive version, of 1869–70, is also in three acts. The first performance of the definitive version was at the Provisional Theatre in Prague on September 25, 1870.
The Bartered Bride was produced in Vienna in 1892, to considerable popular acclaim, and it became the only one of Smetana's operas to maintain a permanent place in the repertory outside of the Czech homeland.
Characters
- Principal roles
- Minor roles
- Krušina - Baritone
- Ludmila - Soprano
- Micha - Bass
- Háta - Mezzo-soprano
- Company manger - Tenor
- Esmeralda - Soprano
- Other
- Indian - Tenor
- Two boys - Spoken
- Villagers, children, actors - Chorus
Noted arias by English title
- "Were I ever to learn that you had ceased to care" (Mařenka)
- "Ma-ma-ma-ma, so dear" (Vašek)
- "Ah, love's sweet dream" (Mařenka)es:La novia vendida