Known as the father of modern Czech music, Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) was a composer, pianist, and conductor. He is best known for the opera The Bartered Bride (Prodaná Nevešta; Die verkaufte Braut) (1866), and for his symphonic work Má vlast (My Homeland) (1875), which includes the famous movement Vltava ("The Moldau"), a musical picture of the river from its source and as a mighty stream through the city of Prague.
The story of The Bartered Bride concerns lovers Hans and Marie about to be mismatched. Marie's parents are about to arrange for her to marry someone else, and Hans is newly arrived in the village and is not too particular about his origin. In fact, Marie's parents, Kruschina and Katinka have employed the marriage broker Kezal to give away their daughter to Wenzel, the son of Misha, a rich landlord.
Marie finds Wenzel, who has never seen her, and tries to persuade him that this Marie has no use for him and would make his life miserable. Wenzel is shy and stutters, and sings of his apprehensions.
As it turns out, Kezal has Hans sign a contract that he agrees that Marie will marry the son of Misha, and in return, Kezal gives him 300 gulden. What Kezal does not know is that Hans is the son of Misha by his first wife. Meanwhile, a circus comes to the village, and Wenzel falls in love with Esmeralda, the tightrope walker. Then Wenzel refuses to sign a contract to marry Marie. All is sorted out, and Marie, the "bartered bride", and Hans are married.
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Last updated: June 20, 2003 by Webmaster.
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