BaL 27.05.23 - Smetana: The Bartered Bride

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

10.30 am
Building a Library: Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Smetana’s opera, The Bartered Bride.

Smetana’s infectious and tuneful comic opera follows the course of true love in the face of ambitious parents and a cunning marriage broker. The score is jumping with energetic Czech dance rhythms with polkas and furiants and one of the most sparkling overtures. Nigel Simeone explores the recordings which include performances from the great conductors and singers of the past.

Available versions:-

Beno Blachut, Ludmila Cervinková, Karel Kalas, Ladislav Mráz, Jarmila Palivcová, Josef Heriban, Vera Krilová, Rudolf Vonáek, Jarmila Pechová, Jan Soumar, Bohumír Vich, Prague Radio Symphony Chorus, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Karel Ancerl *

Hilde Konetzni, Richard Tauber, Fritz Krenn, Marko Rothmuller, Heinrich Tessmer, Mary Jarrod, Jarmila Novotna, Stella Andreva, Sabine Kalter, Gerhard Hinze, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, Paul Kemp, Covent Garden Chorus, Berlin State Orchestra, London Philharmonic
Bruno Seidler-Winkler, Bruno Saidler-Winkler, Sir Thomas Beecham

Tomás Juhás, Dana Buresová, Jozsef Benci, Svotapluk Sem, Stanislava Jirku, Ales Vorácek, Jaroslav Brezina, Katerina Knezíková, Ondrej Mráz, Lucie Hilscherová, Gustáv Belácek, Maxim Dusek, Babette Rust, BBC Singers & BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jirí Belohlávek *

Drahomira Tikalová, Ivo Žídek, Eduard Haken, Jaroslav Horáček, Štěpánka Štěepánová, Oldřich Kovář, Václav Bednář, Jaroslava Dobra, Chorus and Orchestra of Prague National Theatre, Zdeněk Chalabala

Elfrieded Trötschel, Richard Holm, Georg Stern, Christa Ludwig, Maria Madlen Madsen, Choir of Hessischer Rundfunk, Symphony Orchestra of Hessischer Rundfunk, Karl Elmendorff

Alfred Sramek, Lucia Popp, Walter Fink, Siegfried Jerusalem, Karl Ridderbusch & Heinz Zednik, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Adam Fischer (DVD)

Fritz Wunderlich, Gottlob Frick, Pilar Lorengar, Marcel Cordes, Nada Puttar, Ivan Sardi, Sieglinde Wagner, Ernst Krukowski, Gertrud Freedman, Walter Stoll, Bamberger Symphoniker, RIAS Kammerchor, Rudolf Kempe *

László Szemere, Hans Braun, Irmgard Seefried, Hilde Konetzni, Murray Dickie, Waldemar Kmentt, Liselotte Maikl, Oscar Czerwenka, Hans Schweiger, Ludwig Welter, Rosette Anday, Wiener Staatsoper, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Berislav Klobucar

Hans Braun, Hilde Konetzni, Irmgard Seefried, Ludwig Welter, Rosette Anday, Murray Dickie, Waldemar Kmentt, Oskar Czerwenka, László Szemere, Liselotte Maikl, Hans Schweiger, Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Berislav Klobucar

Gabriela Benackova-Capova, Peter Dvorsky, Richard Novak, Jaroslav Horacek, Marie Mrazova, Miroslav Kopp, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Zdenek Kosler

Gabriela Benacková, Peter Dvorský, Richard Novák, Miroslav Kopp, Marie Veselá, Jindrich Jindrák, Marie Mrázová, Jaroslav Horácek, Jana Jonácová & Alfréd Hampl, Prague Philharmonic Chorus & Czech Philharmonic, Zdenek Kosler (DVD)

Janácek Philharmonic Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar (TBC)

Susan Gritton, Yvette Bonner, Yvonne Howard, Diana Montague, Paul Charles Clarke, Robin Leggate, Timothy Robinson, Neal Davies, Geoffrey Moses, Peter Rose, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Opera Chorus, Sir Charles Mackerras

Ada Nordenova, Vladimir Toms, Emil Pollert, Jaroslav Gleich, Jan Konstantin, Marie Pixova, Karel Hruska, Zdenek Otava, Mata Krasonova, Otta Horakova, Vaclav Marek, Prague National Theatre Chorus, Prague National Theatre Orchestra, Otakar Ostrcil

Milada Musilová, Ivo Ŷídek,, Karel Kala, Oldrich Kovár, Chorus and Orchestra National Theatre in Prague, Jaroslav Vogel


(* = download only)

[Barbirollians]

What is the date EA ? It seems this and the Ruckert Lieder on the same day according to your listings ?

I have no doubt this will be far more illuminating than the Ruckert Lieder one

[richardfinegold]

Is the Kempe sung in German?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

What is the date EA ? It seems this and the Ruckert Lieder on the same day according to your listings ?

I have no doubt this will be far more illuminating than the Ruckert Lieder one

It was a bad day yesterday.

[mikealdren]

It was a bad day yesterday.

Sorry to hear that, at least today seems better (apart from the weather)

[prb]

Is the Kempe sung in German?

Yes it is, as are several of the others. The Beecham, and I would guess the Elmendorff and both the Klobucars, judging by the cast lists.

[richardfinegold]

Yes it is, as are several of the others. The Beecham, and I would guess the Elmendorff and both the Klobucars, judging by the cast lists.

I have a Kempe compilation that has several of the non vocal bits

[Darloboy]

First time ever for this opera on BaL.

Given that the only (semi-)oper(ett)as we've had so far this series were Die Fledermaus, The Fairy Queen and Peter Grimes, I was beginning to think that BaL had given up on the genre.

[Wolfram]

First time ever for this opera on BaL.

Given that the only (semi-)oper(ett)as we've had so far this series were Die Fledermaus, The Fairy Queen and Peter Grimes, I was beginning to think that BaL had given up on the genre.

And given up on Cosi.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

First time ever for this opera on BaL.

Given that the only (semi-)oper(ett)as we've had so far this series were Die Fledermaus, The Fairy Queen and Peter Grimes, I was beginning to think that BaL had given up on the genre.

I’m not sure you can put Peter Grimes into this category.

[CallMePaul]

Is the Kempe sung in German?

The Mackerras is sung in English. I saw this opera a few years ago, also sung in English, at the Leeds Grand Theatre. The production updated the action to Communist-era Czechoslovakia, which worked surprisingly well.

Of the versions listed above, without having heard them, Kosler appeals most given the cast of fine Czech singers.

[edashtav]

The Mackerras is sung in English. I saw this opera a few years ago, also sung in English, at the Leeds Grand Theatre. The production updated the action to Communist-era Czechoslovakia, which worked surprisingly well.

Of the versions listed above, without having heard them, Kosler appeals most given the cast of fine Czech singers.

Well, Paul, you’ve named the ‘English’ winner in Nigel Simeone’s far-flung review: Sir Charles Mackerras with the Philharmonia in sparkling form e.g. in the Opera’s fizzing overture.

Versions in German were historically important as it was the publication of a German translation which brought the Opera into the international repertoire. Incidentally, my only vocal score of the work is that German publication. Rudolph Kempe’s 1962 recording with the Bamberg SO was Nigel’s choice in that sector.

The overall winner was a close run race with ‘your’ recommendation of Kosler (1995) being beaten at the last by Chalabala’s 1959 Czech recording having the virtue of an in-house production with local performers acting as a community.

[mikealdren]

Surprised there have been no more comments, I found it an excellent review and I particularly enjoyed it having played BB last year.

[Master Jacques]

Yes indeed - a discerning selection, illuminating discussion and wise recommendation by Mr Simeone. It was particularly thoughtful of him to bring in the vital (and very good) English and German classic recordings.

My only question would be why the 1947 Ancerl radio relay (well recorded for its day, with an incomparable cast including Blachut, Cervinkova and Kalas in his most spontaneous form) was seemingly absent from consideration - unless I missed a trick. Perhaps it is not currently to be had on CD, though it is certainly around as a download and for streaming. It is my own favourite, by a whisker from Chalabala and Vogel. The resonant recording for Kosler rather gets in the way, for me; and admirable though her singing is, I'm not a fully-paid-up member of the Benacková appreciation society.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Surprised there have been no more comments, I found it an excellent review and I particularly enjoyed it having played BB last year.

I’m surprised too. I played the oboe in a student performance of the work in 1973. It was a wonderful experience, except that my instrument was stolen (and never recovered) the day after the final performance. Since then, I’ve never been inclined to watch/listen to the opera again. Very sad, but true.