| Opera North | |||
| Anthony Kraus | Conductor | 2014 Oct 18, 25, 29 | |
| James Holmes | Conductor | 2014 Oct 31 | |
| Daniel Slater | Director | ||
| Robert Innes Hopkins | Set Designer, Costume Designer | ||
| Vanessa Gray | Choreography | ||
| Jennifer France | Soprano | Esmeralda | |
| Ann Taylor | Mezzo-soprano | Ludmila | |
| Kate Valentine | Soprano | Mařenka | |
| Fiona Kimm | Mezzo-soprano | Háta | |
| Brenden Gunnell | Tenor | Jeník | |
| Peter Bodenham | Tenor | The Ringmaster (Principál) | |
| Nicholas Watts | Tenor | Vašek | |
| Peter Savidge | Baritone | Krušina | |
| James Creswell | Bass | Kecal | |
| Stephen Richardson | Bass | Micha |
Mařenka and Jeník are in love, but her father wants her to marry the son of the wealthiest man in town. In the end, youth and cunning outsmart age and power, and the constraints of rural life are thrown off for a while when the circus comes to town.
Smetana is best known for his symphonic poem Ma Vlast (My Country). His music for The Bartered Bride abounds with freshness and vitality, its energy generated by bold contrasts of mood and atmosphere, the exuberance of its folk-like rhythms and the catchiness of its tunes.
Daniel Slater’s colourful production has been enthusiastically received by both audiences and critics:
‘If you want to introduce someone to the delights of opera, this is the one to take them to.’ Sunday Telegraph, 1998
‘Daniel Slater’s updating of Smetana’s sentimental comedy first appeared in 1998 and is one for all the family, with its all-dancing verve and second-half circus interlude, which gets the evening’s biggest cheer.’ The Times, 2004
Sung in English. Performance lasts approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.
