Search - Smetana, Ancerl, Prso :: Bartered Bride in 3 Acts

A Lighthearted, Enjoyable Opera

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 09/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The story of THE BARTERED BRIDE is a love story with a number of twists. Marie and Hans are in love, but Marie's parents are forcing her to marry the son of Micha, a local land owner. The son Marie is engaged to is Wenzel, the stuttering shy son. Marie's parents will not hear their daughter's pleas to allow her to marry the man she loves and insists she marries Micha's son. Through a number of twists and turns, it is revealed that Hans is Micha's long lost son, so Marie is able to follow her heart and obey her parents by marrying Hans. The Overture and some of the dance music from THE BARTERED BRIDE are relatively well known pieces of concert music, but the opera itself is not as well known. This is really a shame because it is a wonderful work with colorful vocal pieces, great duets, and lively choral pieces. Rene Kollo, a tenor best known for the Wagnerian repertoire sings the role of Hans. The versatile Teresa Stratas who can sing roles such as Mimi with dignity and beauty as well as she can sing a gritty Lulu sings the role of Marie. Though the original language of the opera is a Czech, this version is performed in German."