The Bartered Bride (SMETANA BEDRICH)

Par SMETANA BEDRICH. Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) only began to devote himself intensively to the project of an original opera in Czech at the age of 38. The libretto of 'The Bartered Bride”, the second of Smetana's nine operas, was written for Smetana by the poet and journalist Karel Sabina. The subject chosen for the comic opera was the story of a pair of lovers in the countryside whose relationship is disapproved of by their parents. It is set during the festival at a village church anniversary. The final form of the work, which soon came to be regarded as a national opera, was preceded by a relatively difficult genesis. The opera was written between 1863 and 1865 and was premiered on 30 May 1866 at the Provisional Theatre in Prague, where the composer's last version of the work was also performed in 1870. This vocal score contains the musical text of the critical edition of Smetana's own vocal score. The newly-set edition contains both Czech and German vocal texts - the German singing translation is by Kurt Honolka. The newly-set and revised performance material for the entire opera, based on the critical edition by Frantisek Bartos, is available on hire. The vocal score replaces the old edition AE 112. - Urtext based on the critical edition of Smetana's own vocal score - A key work of modern Czech opera - New foreword by Marta Ottlová (Cz/Eng/Ger) - Includes singing translation by Kurt Honolka (Ger)/ Répertoire / Chant et Piano

Bedrich Smetana (1824?1884) only began to devote himself intensively to the project of an original opera in Czech at the age of 38. The libretto of ?The Bartered Bride?, the second of Smetana?s nine operas, was written for Smetana by the poet and journalist Karel Sabina. The subject chosen for the comic opera was the story of a pair of lovers in the countryside whose relationship is disapproved of by their parents. It is set during the festival at a village church anniversary.

The final form of the work, which soon came to be regarded as a national opera, was preceded by a relatively difficult genesis.

The opera was written between 1863 and 1865 and was premiered on 30 May 1866 at the Provisional Theatre in Prague, where the composer?s last version of the work was also performed in 1870.

This vocal score contains the musical text of the critical edition of Smetana?s own vocal score.

The newly-set edition contains both Czech and German vocal texts; the German singing translation is by Kurt Honolka.

The newly-set and revised performance material for the entire opera, based on the critical edition by Frantisek Bartos, is available on hire. / [La Fiancée vendue] / Classique / Partition /

Bedrich Smetana's The Bartered Bride dates from the happiest most musically fulfilling period in the composer's life and draws inspiration from Czech folk music. The action takes place to the backdrop of a visiting circus. Marenka and Jenik’s love for each other seems doomed as Marenka's father has brokered her in marriage to Vasek. Marenka meets Vasek who doesn't realize who she is and dissuades him from the marriage; meanwhile the marriage broker Kecal persuades Jenik to accept marriage to a wealthy girl; he agrees on condition that Marenka marry the son of Tobias Micha. Vasek forsakes the arranged marriage in pursuit of a circus dancer; Marenka remains scornful ofJenik's seeming betrayal. Jenik's plan becomes clear in the final scene when he is revealed to be Micha's long-lost elder son. All of the mismatched couples are sorted out and a family restored in a joyous finale.This is the Schirmer Edition of the Vocal Score with English text by Marian Farquhar.

The Bartered Bride (Czech: Prodan? nev??sta The Sold Fianc?e) is the second opera a comedy in three acts by Bed?ich Smetana. The Czech libretto was written by Karel Sabina who had also written the libretto for Brandenburgers in Bohemia. Composed in 1863?1866 the work was originally envisioned as an operetta a light opera with spoken dialogue in place of sung recitatives. It was first performed in this form in 1866 in Prague. The definitive version of the work now an opera buffa was finished in 1870 and was performed the same year. The opera's overture and three dances are part of the orchestral repertoire.

Contents: Rossini: La calunnia (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) ? A un dottor della mia sorte (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) ? Cornelius: Mein Sohn (Der Barbier von Bagdad) ? Smetana: Kezal's Aria (The Bartered Bride) ? Puccini: Vecchia zimarra (La Boheme) ? Mussorgsky: I have attained to power (Boris Godunov) ? Varlaam's Song (Boris Godunov) ? Pimen's Tale (Boris Godunov) ? Verdi: Dormiro sol nel manto mio regal (Don Carlo) ? Infelice! e tuo credevi (Ernani) ? Infin che un brando vindice (Ernani) ? Come dal ciel precipita (Macbeth) ? Il lacerato spirito (Simon Boccanegra) ? Di due figli vivea, padre beato (Il Trovatore) ? Mozart: Madamina! il catalogo e questo (Don Giovanni) ? Wer ein Liebchen hat gefunden (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) ? Solche herge laufne Laffen (Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail) ? Se vuol ballare, signor Contino (Le Nozze di Figaro) ? Non piu andrai (Le Nozze di Figaro) ? In diesen heil'gen Hallen (Die Zauberflöte) ? O Isis und Osiris (Die Zauberflöte) ? Donizetti: Ah, un foco insolito (Don Pasquale) ? A tanto amor (La Favorita) ? Dalle stanze, ove Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor) ? Tchaikovsky: Gremin's Aria (Eugene Onegin) ? Gounod: Vous qui faites l'endormie (Faust) ? Le veau d'or (Faust) ? Beethoven: Hat man nicht auch Gold daneben (Fidelio) ? Wagner: Mogst du, mein Kind (Der Fliegende Hollander) ? Mein Herr und Gott (Lohengrin) ? Nun hort und versteht (Pogner's Address) (Die Meistersinger) ? Tatest du's wirklich? (Tristan und Isolde) ? Ponchielli: Ombre die mia prosapia (La Gioconda) ? Meyerbeer: Piff, Paff (Les Heugenots) ? Gluck: De noirs pressentiments (Iphigenie en Tauride) ? Halvey: Si la rigueur (La Juive) ? Nicholai: Als Bublein klein (Drinking Song) (The Merry Wives of Windsor) ? Massenet: Epouse quelque brave fille (Manon) ? Flotow: Lasst mich euch fragen (Porter Song) (Martha) ? Thomas: De son coeur j'ai calme la fievre (Mignon) ? Dargomyzhsky: The Miller's Song (Rusalka).

In Full Score-This full-score miniature edition contains a treasury of orchestral works by Czech composer Bed ich Smetana including 'The Moldau' and 'From Bohemian Fields and Groves' from M vlast ('My Fatherland') in addition to the Overture and three dances—'Polka ' 'Furiant ' and 'Dance of the Comedians'—from the opera The Bartered Bride.The works are reproduced here from authoritative editions complete with bar-numbered movements for easy reference. Affordable durable and portable this miniature score edition is ideal for study in the classroom at home or in the concert hall.Reprinted from authoritative editions.