Smetana, B. - The Bartered Bride. Opera in 3 Acts, Musilova, Zidek, Kalas, Kovar, Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra , J.Vogel

Smetana, B. - The Bartered Bride. Opera in 3 Acts, Musilova, Zidek, Kalas, Kovar, Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra , J.Vogel

Bedrich Smetana - THE BARTERED BRIDE

A comic opera in three Acts

Milada Musilova (Marenka), Ivo Zidek (Jenik), Karel Kalas (Kecal), Oldrich Kovar (Vasek) and others

Chorus and Orchestra of the National Theatre in Prague

conductor JAROSLAV VOGEL

(1952), for the first time on CD

During the course of the 20th century Smetana's The Bartered Bride had numerous complete recordings which documented the interpretational mastery of the artists associated with Prague's National Theatre. Supraphon is now releasing the first-ever CD of this underrated recording of the production conducted by Jaroslav Vogel, which for a long time - primarily in the shadow of Zdenek Chalabala's and Zdenek Kosler's celebrated albums - has awaited rediscovery. The twenty-five-year-old Ivo Zidek (Jenik) and the twenty years older Oldrich Kovar (Vasek) appear here in their pivotal roles. You can also look forward to savouring the stellar performances of Milada Musilova (Marenka), Karel Kalas (Kecal) and other singers. -- 

(Supraphon 2009) 

Key authors

music by    Bedrich Smetana

libretto by    Karel Sabina

Key interpreters

conductor    Jaroslav Vogel

chorus master    Vladivoj Jankovsky

bass    Karel Kalas

bass    Ladislav Mraz

bass    Zdenek Otava

contralto    Marie Vesela

tenor    Ivo Zidek

tenor    Oldrich Kovar

tenor    Karel Hruska

baritone    Vaclav Bednar

soprano    Milada Musilova

soprano    Stepanka Stepanova

soprano    Jarmila Pechova

Key musicians

Prague National Theatre Orchestra     (conductor: Jaroslav Vogel)

Prague National Theatre Chorus     (chorus master: Vladivoj Jankovsky)

Title content

CD 1

1.    The Bartered Bride. A Comic Opera in Three Acts    02:09:01   

1.    Overture    00:06:09    MP3 example :: Overture [470 kB]

2.    Act 1, Scene 1 "Let us rejoice, let´s be merry"    00:07:44   

3.    Act 1, Scene 2 Recitativo "It will then happen like I have been told!"    00:01:09

4.    Act 1, Scene 2 Aria "Should I ever happen to learn something like that about you"    00:03:25

5.    Act 1, Scene 2 Recitativo "It´s only true that your past life seems to be veiled in a sort of mystery"    00:00:39    MP3 example :: Act 1, Scene 2 Recitativo "It´s only true that your past life seems to be veiled in a sort of mystery" 

6.    Act 1, Scene 2 Duetto "While a mother´s love means blessing, painful is a stepmother´s hate ..."    00:02:13   

7.    Act 1, Scene 2 Duetto "Faithful love cannot be marred by any former pledge or promise"    00:03:39   

8.    Act 1, Scene 3 "As I´m saying, my dear fellow ..."    00:05:00    MP3 example :: Act 1, Scene 3 "As I´m saying, my dear fellow ..." 

9.    Act 1, Scene 3 Recitativo "Of course, I know Tobias Micha since my childhood"    00:00:44

10.    Act 1, Scene 3 Terzetto "He´s well brought up and decent ..."    00:03:42   

11.    Act 1, Scene 4 Quartetto "Here she´s coming!"    00:04:38   

12.    Act 1, Scene 4 Recitativo "Jenik will not give in ..."    00:01:23

13.    Act 1, Scene 5 Finale - Polka and Chorus "Come on, girl, let´s be merry ..."    00:04:07   

14.    Act 2, Scene 1 "Beer´s no doubt a gift from heaven ..."    00:04:54    MP3 example :: Act 2, Scene 1 "Beer´s no doubt a gift from heaven ..." 

15.    Act 2, Scene 1 - Furiant    00:02:06    MP3 example :: Act 2, Scene 1 - Furiant

16.    Act 2, Scene 2 "My-my-my mother dear sa-sa-said to me..."    00:02:12    MP3 example :: Act 2, Scene 2 "My-my-my mother dear sa-sa-said to me..." [470 kB]

music by: Bedrich Smetana

libretto by: Karel Sabina

baritone: Vaclav Bednar

soprano: Stepanka Stepanova

soprano: Milada Musilova

tenor: Oldrich Kovar

tenor: Ivo Zidek

bass: Karel Kalas

chorus master: Vladivoj Jankovsky

conductor: Jaroslav Vogel

Prague National Theatre Chorus

17.    Act 2, Scene 3 Recitativo "You are surely Marenka Krusinova´s bridegroom?"    00:01:18

18.    Act 2, Scene 3 Duetto "I know a maiden fair whose love for you is boundless ..."    00:05:50

CD 2

1.    The Bartered Bride. A Comic Opera in Three Acts    02:09:01   

1.    Act 2, Scene 4 Recitativo "As I say, she´s lovely, sweet and also rich ..."    00:00:37   

2.    Act 2, Scene 4 Duetto "Now then, my dear man ..."    00:08:01   

3.    Act 2, Scene 4 Recitativo "And if you renounce Marenka I shall also pay you something"    00:03:14   

4.    Act 2, Scene 5 " When you find out for whom you have bought a bride. you will sadly return home"    00:03:41   

5.    Act 2, Scene 6 Finale "Come inside, people ..."    00:03:51   

6.    Act 3, Scene 1 "I...I can´t get it off my,my mind"    00:03:50   

7.    Act 3, Scene 2 March of the comedians. Recitativo "We announce to the public ..."    00:01:41   

8.    Act 3, Scene 2 - Skocna. Dance of the Comedians    00:04:44   

9.    Act 3, Scene 2 Recitativo "Oh, oh, oh, oh, that will be lovely ..."    00:03:52   

10.    Act 3, Scene 3 Duetto "We shall make a graceful little bear of you ..."    00:01:31   

11.    Act 3, Scene 4 Recitativo "Oh, dear me, dear me !"    00:03:16   

12.    Act 3, Scene 4 "No, no, I don´t believe ..."    00:04:02   

13.    Act 3, Scene 4 "Hey Vasel, hey Vasicek ..."    00:01:11   

14.    Act 3, Scene 5 Sextetto "Make up your mind, Marenka, take your time ..."    00:03:02   

15.    Act 3, Scene 6 "Oh, what a grief!"    00:05:44   

16.    Act 3, Scene 7 "Marenka mine - Are you really so stubborn, dear ..."    00:04:04   

17.    Act 3, Scene 8 Recitativo "Well, so you are still here, my young man?"    00:01:02   

18.    Act 3, Scene 8 Terzetto "Calm down, calm down, dear, calm down"    00:03:30   

19.    Act 3, Scene 9 Finale " What have you decided, Marenka?"    00:04:07   

20.    Act 3, Scene 10 "Save yourselves! The bear has got loose!"    00:00:44   

21.    Act 3, Scene 10 "Remember, neighbour!"    00:01:54