Twenty-first production of The Bartered Bride in the history of the National Theatre premiered on 26th and 28 May 2022.
This May, the National Theatre Opera introduced a new production of the most frequently performed and most popular opera by Bedřich Smetana – The Bartered Bride. The Music Director of the National Opera, Jaroslav Kyzlink, conducts the National Theatre Orchestra in a production directed by Alice Nellis, featuring Kateřina Kněžíková, who recently won the BBC Music Magazine Award, alternating with Alžběta Poláčková in the role of Mařenka.
Peter Berger and Richard Samek take turns in the role of Jeník. Kecal is sung by Zdeněk Plech and Jiří Sulženko, the role of Vašek entrusts to Ondřej Koplík and Josef Moravec. As a surprise for the audience, the production also features “young Mařenka” performed by Markéta Klaudová and Doubrava Součková. The reason is that the director of this production, Alice Nellis, decided to present this classical opera in a production that is both conventional and unconventional at the same time: as an insight into the process of preparing a production.
“Spectators may look forward to beautiful costumes, even though the path to them will be a bit atypical. In a way, they will take a peek behind the scenes of the National Theatre. They will see an opera production being built, gradually created.”
The stage design by Matěj Cibulka is based upon the key idea of Alice Nellis, who opted for a very playful form of “play within a play” allowing spectators to witness, how a production is created. “As the production slowly develops in front of the eyes of the audience, becoming more focused, the stage also transforms using lighting, projections and colour stylizations.” Also, costumes by Kateřina Štefková will undergo a dramatic and organic development during the performance.
A pleasantly refreshing choreography by Klára Lidová is based upon traditional Czech dance patterns but will also draw upon contemporary sources that go surprisingly well with Smetana’s music. Of course, there is the traditional circus scene, this time with acrobats and fearless trampoline bouncing.
