Composer

:

Bedrich Smetana

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1863 - 1870

Publication Date

:

1872

First Performance

:

May 30, 1866

Average_duration

:

120:36

Movement_count

:

36

Movement ....

"Prodaná nevesta" or "The Bartered Bride" is an opera composed by Bedrich Smetana, a Czech composer, in 1866. The opera is a comic masterpiece that tells the story of a young couple, Mařenka and Jeník, who are in love but are threatened by the machinations of their parents and a marriage broker, Kecal. The plot of the opera revolves around the efforts of Kecal to arrange a marriage between Mařenka and the wealthy Micha. However, Mařenka is already in love with Jeník, who is not as wealthy as Micha. Kecal convinces Mařenka's parents that Micha is the better match, but Jeník has a plan to win Mařenka's hand. He reveals that he is actually the long-lost son of a wealthy landowner and therefore a better match than Micha. The parents agree to the match, and the opera ends with a joyful celebration. The opera was composed in 1866 and premiered on May 30, 1866, at the Provisional Theatre in Prague. The premiere was a great success, and the opera quickly became one of the most popular works in the Czech repertoire. "Prodaná nevesta" is divided into three acts and features a number of memorable musical numbers, including the famous "Dance of the Comedians" in Act 3. The opera is characterized by its lively and energetic music, which reflects the folk traditions of the Czech people. Smetana's use of Czech folk melodies and rhythms was groundbreaking at the time and helped to establish a distinct Czech national style in classical music. The opera is also notable for its use of spoken dialogue instead of recitative, which was a departure from the traditional operatic style of the time. This decision was made to make the opera more accessible to Czech audiences, who were not as familiar with the Italian operatic tradition. Overall, "Prodaná nevesta" is a charming and entertaining opera that showcases Smetana's skill as a composer and his commitment to creating a distinct Czech national style in classical music. Its popularity has endured over the years, and it remains a beloved work in the Czech repertoire.

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