SMETANA: The Bartered Bride – Musilová, Zídek, Kalas, National Theatre in Prague (2 CDs) SUPRAPHON

During the course of the 20th century Smetana’s The Bartered Bride had numerous complete recordings which documented the interpretational mastery of the artists associated with Prague’s National Theatre. Supraphon is now releasing the first-ever CD of this underrated recording of the production conducted by Jaroslav Vogel, which for a long time – primarily in the shadow of Zdeněk Chalabala’s and Zdeněk Košler’s celebrated albums – has awaited rediscovery. The twenty-five-year-old Ivo Žídek (Jeník) and the twenty years older Oldřich Kovář (Vašek) appear here in their pivotal roles. You can also look forward to savouring the stellar performances of Milada Musilová (Mařenka), Karel Kalaš (Kecal) and other singers.

CD 1
Bedřich Smetana
The Bartered Bride. A Comic Opera in Three Acts
1. Overture 06:09
2. Act 1, Scene 1: Let Us Rejoice, Let’s Be Merry 07:44
3. Act 1, Scene 2: Recitativo – It Will Then Happen like I Have Been Told! 01:09
4. Act 1, Scene 2: Aria – Should I Ever Happen to Learn Something like That about You 03:25
5. Act 1, Scene 2: Recitativo: It’s Only True That Your past Life Seems to Be Veiled in a Sort of Mystery 00:40
6. Act 1, Scene 2: Duetto – While a Mother’s Love Means Blessing, Painful Is a Stepmother’s Hate … 02:14
7. Act 1, Scene 2: Duetto – Faithful Love Cannot Be Marred by Any Former Pledge or Promise 03:40
8. Act 1, Scene 3: As I’m Saying, My Dear Fellow … 05:01
9. Act 1, Scene 3: Recitativo – Of Course, I Know Tobiáš Mícha since My Childhood 00:44
10. Act 1, Scene 3: Terzetto He’s Well Brought up and Decent … 03:42
11. Act 1, Scene 4: Quartetto – Here She’s Coming! 04:39
12. Act 1, Scene 4: Recitativo – Jeník Will Not Give in… 01:24
13. Act 1, Scene 5: Finale – Polka and Chorus – Come On, Girl, Let’s Be Merry … 04:12
14. Act 2, Scene 1: Beer’s No Doubt a Gift from Heaven … 04:55
15. Act 2, Scene 1: Furiant 02:07
16. Act 2, Scene 2: My-My-My Mother Dear Sa-Sa-Said to Me… 02:13
17. Act 2, Scene 3: Recitativo – You Are Surely Mařenka Krušinová’s Bridegroom? 01:18
18. Act 2, Scene 3: Duetto – I Know a Maiden Fair Whose Love for You Is Boundless … 05:51

CD 2
Bedřich Smetana
The Bartered Bride. A Comic Opera in Three Acts
1. Act 2, Scene 4: Recitativo – As I Say, She’s Lovely, Sweet and Also Rich … 00:38
2. Act 2, Scene 4: Duetto – Now Then, My Dear Man … 08:01
3. Act 2, Scene 4: Recitativo – And If You Renounce Mařenka I Shall Also Pay You Something 03:14
4. Act 2, Scene 5: When You Find out for Whom You Have Bought a Bride, You Will Sadly Return Home 03:41
5. Act 2, Scene 6: Finale – Come Inside, People … 03:56
6. Act 3, Scene 1: I Can’t Get it off My, My Mind 03:51
7. Act 3, Scene 2: March of the Comedians – Recitativo – We Announce to the Public … 01:41
8. Act 3, Scene 2: Skočná – Dance of the Comedians 04:44
9. Act 3, Scene 2: Recitativo – Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, That Will Be Lovely … 03:52
10. Act 3, Scene 3: Duetto – We Shall Make a Graceful Little Bear of You … 01:31
11. Act 3, Scene 4: Recitativo – Oh, Dear Me, Dear Me! 03:17
12. Act 3, Scene 4: No, No, I Don’t Believe … 04:02
13. Act 3, Scene 4: Hey Vašek, Hey Vašíček … 01:11
14. Act 3, Scene 5: Sextetto – Make up Your Mind, Mařenka, Take Your Time … 03:02
15. Act 3, Scene 6: Oh, What a Grief! 05:45
16. Act 3, Scene 7: Mařenka Mine – Are You Really so Stubborn, Dear … 04:04
17. Act 3, Scene 8: Recitativo – Well, so You Are Still Here, My Young Man? 01:02
18. Act 3, Scene 8: Terzetto – Calm Down, Calm Down, Dear, Calm Down 03:30
19. Act 3, Scene 9: Finale – What Have You Decided, Mařenka? 04:08
20. Act 3, Scene 10: Save Yourselves! The Bear Has Got Loose! 00:44
21. Act 3, Scene 10: Remember, Neighbour! 01:54