Name: Smetana: Bartered Bride (The) (Sung in English) by Charles Mackerras
Brand: Charles Mackerras
SKU: 095115312827
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (308 reviews)

ALBUM

Volume 1

Volume 2

The Bartered Bride continues Chandos' series Opera in English, and it succeeds admirably in this spirited and well-sung performance. The quality of translation is a critical element in the success of an endeavor such as this. Happily, the version by Kit Hesketh-Harvey (who also has a small role in the opera) is rendered into idiomatic and singable English. There is a whiff of W.S. Gilbert in the broad humor and in the rhyme schemes, but that is not entirely inappropriate, as the plot has some typically Gilbertian twists and characters and given the music's occasional similarities to that of Arthur Sullivan.
Soprano Susan Gritton as Marenka and tenor Paul Charles Clarke as Jeník are adorably fresh and young sounding as the couple faced with the dilemma of Marenka's imminent arranged marriage to the village dullard, and they deliver their intimate banter with humor and lightness. The singers in the supporting roles are comparably strong. Bass Peter de Rose is hilarious as Kecal, the unctuous marriage broker, and baritone Neal Davies and mezzo-soprano Yvonne Howard bring warm and supple voices to the roles of Marenka's parents. Tenor Timothy Robinson captures both the humor and poignancy in Vasek, Marenka's intended bridegroom.
The Philharmonia Orchestra and the Royal Opera House Chorus, under the leadership of Charles Mackerras, play and sing with exuberance and panache, bringing out both the lightness and lyric sweep the opera requires. Chandos' sound is clear, and effectively conveys the spatial relationships of a stage production. The performance is a compelling argument for this attractive and tuneful work that is seen too rarely in American opera houses.

Smetana: Bartered Bride (The) (Sung in English)

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Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 1

1. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131: Overture

2. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 1: Time at last for celebration (Chorus)

3. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 1: Why do you look so downcast (Jenik, Marenka, Chorus)

4. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 2: Jenik, what will happen If Mother's right? (Marenka, Jenik)

5. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 2: Promise me That you would never (Marenka)

6. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 2: Is It so unfair to want to know (Marenka, Jenik)

7. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 2: Such a mother Is a blessing (Jenik, Marenka)

8. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 2: Faithful love I vow to you (Marenka, Jenik)

9. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 3: Every detail has been sorted (Kecal, Krusina, Ludmila)

10. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 3: Hold It! Are we not forgetting (Krusina, Kecal, Ludmila)

11. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 3: Well, as I told you, he's kind and he's gentle (Kecal, Ludmila, Krusina)

12. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 4: Look! She's coming! (Kecal, Ludmila, Krusina, Marenka)

13. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 4: Fine then, say what you will (Marenka, Krusina, Ludmila, Kecal)

14. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act I Scene 5: Introduction. Polka - Take your partners for the polka (Chorus)

15. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 1: So charge the glasses, lads (Chorus, Jenik, Kecal)

16. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 1: Furiant

17. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 2: Ma …Ma …My mamma said (Vasek)

18. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 3: Don't say you're the boy (Marenka, Vasek)

19. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 3: I know there's a girl for you (Marenka, Vasek)

Volume 2

1. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 4: I have plenty of others (Kecal, Jenik)

2. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 4: Just a word or two, my friend (Kecal, Jenik, Chorus)

3. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 4: Time and time again I encounter men (Kecal, Jenik)

4. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 4: Think what It's worth, lad (Kecal, Jenik)

5. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 4: You'll go home to Moravia? (Kecal, Jenik)

6. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 5: Ah, my friend! Once you learn (Kecal)

7. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act II Scene 6: Come now everyone, gather round (Kecal, Chorus, Jenik, Krusina)

8. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 1: I'm near now to despairing (Vasek)

9. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 2: Roll up! Roll up ladies and gentlemen! (Ringmaster)

10. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 2: Ballet

11. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 2: Oh, It looks so lovely! (Vasek, Esmeralda, Indian, Ringmaster)

12. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 2: Mother doesn't matter, Mother wouldn't care! (Esmeralda, Ringmaster)

13. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 3: Oh, I don't understand It! (Vasek, Hasek, Kecal, Micha)

14. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 3: What? Dare he? Would he? You do what? (Hata, Micha, Kecal, Vasek)

15. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 4: No! I don't believe you! (Marenka, Krusina, Kecal, Ludmila, Hata, Micha)

16. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 5: Oh, Vasek! Don't run away! (Kecal, Vasek, Ludmila, Hata, Krusina, Micha)

17. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 5: Think It over, Marenka, think It through (Ludmila, Hata, Krusina, Kecal, Micha, Marenka)

18. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 6: Oh, but the pain! The burning pain! (Marenka)

19. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 6: We dreamed upon a moonlit night (Marenka)

20. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 7: Marenka mine, Marenka mine! (Jenik, Marenka)

21. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 8: So then, young man (Kecal, Marenka, Jenik)

22. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 8: Be calm, oh my love (Jenik, Marenka, Kecal)

23. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 9: Tell us, Marenka, It's all up to you (Chorus, Marenka, Jenik)

24. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 9: It's Jenik! What's he doing here? (Hata, Micha, Jenik, Kecal, Marenka, Ludmila, Krusina)

25. The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100, B. 131, Act III Scene 10: Everybody get out of the way! (2 boys, Vasek, Hata, Krusina, Ludmila, Micha, Marenka, Jenik, Chorus)

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