Of all Smetana‘s operas, The Bartered Bride (Prodaná Nevesta) is the most important in the Czech national classical canon. The use of the term “bartered” (in many translations – but the Hungarian – of the title) further emphasises the comic, folk tale like character of Smetana’s opera. The village love story is very simple: Mařenka loves Jeník, but her parents intend her to marry the local rich man Micha’s other son, Vasek. For a huge sum of money Jeník agrees with the matchmaker to give up the matrimony he planned with Mařenka, but on the condition that Mařenka marries Micha’s eldest son. Apart from Jenik, no one in the village knows that he himself is Micha’s lost son. So the bargain is made, which causes many-many complications and love struggles. But in the end, as in Molière’s comedies, everything falls into place with an unexpected twist. All’s well that ends well: the people of the village are also pleased with the outcome which they celebrate by singing and dancing merrily. Smetana was so enchanted by the fable like story that he composed a beautiful prelude: the opera’s overture was later performed as a concert piece in its own right.

Mařenka – Melinda Heiter
Jenik – Botond Ódor
Dr. Kecal, lawyer – Krisztián Cser
Vašek – Zoltán Megyesi
Krušina, Mařenka’s father – András Hábetler
Krušináné, Mařenka’s mother – Beatrix Fodor
Tobias Micha, Vašek’s father – Zoltán Bátki Fazekas
Micháné, Vašek’s mother – Lúcia Megyesi Schwartz
Cirkuszigazgató: Attila Serbán
Esmeralda: Barbara Bordás

Choreographer: Péter Lajos Túri
Hungarian text and dramaturg: Ildikó Turcsányi

Hungarian Air Gymnastics Association artists (artistic director: Tünde Vincze)
Musical collaborator: Mónika Baja

Contributing: Cantemus Mixed Choir Nyíregyháza (director: Soma Szabó)
Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra

Conducted by: Gábor Hollerung

Directed by: Vajk Szente

Smetana: The Bartered Bride – staged concert