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 /
