Musically excellent Bartered Bride in Prague marred by meta production

Alžběta Poláčková (Mařenka), Maria Kobielska (Ludmila), Jiří Hájek (Krušina), Zdeněk Plech (Kecal)

Peter Berger (Jeník) and Josef Moravec (Vašek)

Doubravka Součková (Mařenka 2), Peter Berger (Jeník), Zdeněk Plech (Kecal) and ensemble

Josef Moravec (Vašek)

By Dominic Lowe, 10 March 2026

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“by dressing it in a meta cloak, the romance becomes artificial”

Reviewed at National Theatre (Národní divadlo), Prague on 4 March 2026

Smetana, The Bartered Bride (Prodaná nevěsta)

Prague National Theatre Opera

Jaroslav Kyzlink, Conductor

David Švec, Conductor

Alice Nellis, Director

Matěj Cibulka, Set Designer, Lighting Designer

Kateřina Štefková, Costume Designer

Prague National Theatre Orchestra

Prague National Theatre Chorus

Michal Mocňák, Video

Ondřej Hučín, Dramaturgy

Alžběta Poláčková, Mařenka

Kateřina Kněžíková, Mařenka

Jana Sibera, Mařenka

Markéta Klaudová, Mařenka

Doubravka Novotná, Mařenka

Jiří Sulženko, Kecal

Zdeněk Plech, Kecal

Ondřej Koplík, Vašek

Josef Moravec, Vašek

Peter Berger, Jeník

Richard Samek, Jeník

Lucie Hájková, Esmeralda, Ludmila

Maria Kobielska, Esmeralda, Ludmila

Jaroslav Březina, The Ringmaster

Tomáš Kořínek, The Ringmaster

Jana Sýkorová, Háta

Yvona Škvárová, Háta

Roman Vocel, Micha

František Zahradníček, Micha

Jiří Hájek, Krušina, The Indian

Martin Bárta, Krušina, The Indian

Prague National Theatre Opera Ballet

Klára Lidová, Choreography

Lukáš Kozubík, Choirmaster / chorus director

Parsifal reconsidered: A provocative improvisation in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 26th March

Timo Riihonen and Ester Pavlů stand out in a strong cast which carries Andreas Homoki's revised version of Wagner's final opera.

****1

In Prague, a high-minded new Rheingold never gets off the ground

Frank Kuznik, 12th February

Sláva Daubnerová's contemporary treatment of the Ring opener at the Prague National Theatre is socially ambitious but artistically disappointing.

***11

Dido and Aeneas in Prague: wide-eyed wonderment

David Karlin, 15th January

Alice Nellis' staging of Purcell's masterpiece is both historically faithful and innovatively modern. With Collegium 1704 providing the early music chops, it's a rare treat.

*****

Revival of Ostrčil’s The Legend of Erin misses the mark in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 16th October

An ambitious effort to honor hometown hero Otakar Ostrčil sags under its own weight at the Prague National Theatre.

***11

A bleak Jenůfa from Calixto Bieito

Frank Kuznik, 22nd May

The director drains the life out of an impassioned opera with a staging devoid of authenticity and ideas.

**111

Cherubini’s Medea falls flat in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 22nd February

The challenges of Cherubini’s version of the Greek tragedy prove too much for the National Theatre to overcome.

**111

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.

Musically excellent Bartered Bride in Prague slightly marred by meta production