The Bartered Bride

Archive Broadcast from December 2, 1978

The Metropolitan Opera

December 25, 2010, 1:00 pm

Composer: Bedrich Smetana
Conductor: James Levine

Cast: Marenka: Teresa Stratas
Jenek: Nicolai Gedda
Vašek: Jon Vickers
Kecal: Martti Talvela

Act I

A village in southern Bohemia. Villagers celebrate the spring feast day with drinking and dancing. The girl Ma?enka, who is in love with Jeník, is unhappy because she is to meet her suitor Vašek that day, the rich farmer Mícha’s son. Ma?enka’s father, as a bond for a debt, many years ago promised Mícha that his daughter would marry Vašek. Ma?enka tells Jeník that she will always be faithful to him, but she is worried because she knows so little about his past. Jeník explains that he is the son of a wealthy father but that his stepmother forced him to leave the family to earn his living as a farmhand. The two renew their promise to remain together. They leave as the village marriage broker, Kecal, approaches with Ma?enka’s parents. The fast-talking Kecal reminds the father, Krušina, of his contract with Mícha. Krušina seems ready to accept the situation, but his wife, Ludmila, wonders whether Ma?enka might object, and she is curious to find out more about her prospective son-in-law. Kecal paints a glowing picture of Vašek’s qualities, adding that the young man is very shy. Ma?enka returns and announces she has already promised to marry Jeník. Kecal, confident he can overcome this obstacle, produces the contract. Ma?enka storms off and Kecal suggests that Krušina and Ludmila meet with Mícha at the inn while he persuades Jeník to drop his suit.

Act II

At the inn, the men sing the praises of drink. The stammering Vašek appears, followed shortly after by Ma?enka. Realizing he is the man chosen for her, she persuades the insecure young man that the girl he is supposed to marry would make life miserable for him. She tells him that an even prettier girl adores him from afar, and Vašek, thinking Ma?enka his new-found admirer, stumbles away after her. Kecal, determined not to lose his commission, now tries to interest Jeník in another girl. When Jeník declares he will remain faithful to Ma?enka, Kecal cynically reminds him that every lover thinks his love is true—until he is deceived. The smart man, he advises, considers whether the game is profitable for him; if not, he gives it up. Kecal then enumerates the possessions of the rich girl he has in mind for Jeník, finally offering to throw in an additional 300 crowns if he will renounce Ma?enka. When Jeník hears the money will come from Mícha, he agrees—but only on the condition that Ma?enka marry no one but a son of Mícha. He also demands that the debts Ma?enka’s father owes Mícha are to be canceled. Alone, Jeník muses that he has caught the marriage broker in his own trap and again declares his faith in love over money. When Kecal calls in the villagers to witness the new contract, they are shocked that Jeník has bartered his bride.

Act III

Vašek laments his situation, complaining that courting has brought him nothing but trouble. A traveling circus troupe arrives in the village and gives a preview of their performance. Vašek immediately falls for the dancer Esmeralda, who suggests to the circus barker that Vašek replace the drunkard who plays the performing bear in their show. He agrees, and the two teach Vašek his steps. When the circus people have left, Vašek’s parents arrive with Kecal. They are astonished when Vašek refuses to sign the marriage agreement and runs off. Ma?enka appears with her parents. She is heartbroken that Jeník has betrayed her, and all four parents and Kecal encourage her to think the situation over. Left alone, she gives in to her disappointment. When Jeník arrives, she refuses to listen to his explanations and declares she will marry Vašek. At the height of the quarrel, Kecal walks in and asks Ma?enka if she has decided to marry Mícha’s son. Before she can reply, Jeník declares that that is what she will do. Ma?enka is resolved to punish Jeník for his betrayal by marrying Vašek, and everyone returns to witness the signing of the contract. Suddenly Jeník steps forward, addressing Mícha as “father,” and the older man recognizes him as his long-lost son. Ma?enka, asked which of Mícha’s sons she will marry, runs into Jeník’s arms. Kecal angrily admits defeat and leaves, mocked by the crowd. Vašek momentarily alarms the villagers when he turns up in his bear costume, but he is led away by his mother. Mícha agrees to the marriage of Ma?enka and Jeník, and all celebrate the young couple.

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