Inva Mula (Marenka) Piotr Beczala (Jenik) Foto Franck Ferville,

Inva Mula,  Piotr Beccala, Jean-Philippe Lafont and Andreas Conrad are highlighting The Bartered Bride by Bedrich Smetana at Palais Garnier in Paris.

In a vellfunctioning, not changing stylistic scenography by William Orlandi which too is responsable for the costumes, well functioning in a delicious 1920´s style, even presenting two nice old cars on stage, and with delicious details giving the stage a good perspective by using a miniatur car to drive in the background before coming up in full size at the front of the stage. All the amusing, romantic story is being told, about the young girl Marenka, wonderfully sung and presented by Inva Mula, and Jenik, brilliantly sung and performed by the great tenor Piotr Beczala, who want to be married. The Bartered Bride, which is the second of Smetana´s operas, is a comic work, in traditional opera form, with arias, duets, ensembles etc, separated by recitative
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I exspecially liked the way Smetana is including ensembles performed, not by the two leading roles, but giving a chamber musically effect by letting the others presenting his compositionally celebrity, and the letting us hear Isabella Vernat as Ludmilla, the mother of Marenka, Marie-Thérése Keller as Háta,  Jean-Philippe Lafont wonderful as Kecal the match maker, Michael Druiett as Micha in these inspiring ensembles. Furtherone Heinz Zednik as a good director of the Commediants.

Isabelle Vernet (Ludmila) Jean-Philippe Lafont (Kecal) Oleg Bryjak (Krusina), foto Frank Ferville,

Valérie Condoluci spontaneous as Esmeralda and Ugo Rabec as the Indian

. An other detail which makes this production alive is the very good use of 16 dancers in all the connections were they can be used, – in the folk groups, serwants, as wonderful commediants, great choreographed by Micha van Hoecke and realised by Guy de Boeck. The Dance of the Commediants was being highlighted by the dancers, and by letting the trumpet and the piccolo flute soloists being members of the smale commediants orchestra on stage. That was brilliantly done. The name of the trumpet player could have been mentioned in the programme.

Inva Mula (Marenka) Piotr Beczala (Jenik), foto Franck Ferville,

The libretto was written by Karel Sabina, taking a form like a folk tale about a young girl in love  with a poor young man, but promised to a richone, whom she doesn´t love. The work proposes a traditional sentimental portrait of peasant life. Peppered with incidents, as the young beloved, seek to escape from the social proprieties. Allthough there is nothing particularly original about this portrayal, it nevertheless brings to the fore a serious of simple and touching characters who, in every situation, demonstrates cunning, humor and affection.

Valérie Condoluci (Esmeralda) Andreas Conrad (Vasek), foto Franck Ferville,

If it was not for the wealth and charm of Smetana´s music the Bathered Bride would not have been one of the most popular and loved works in the Czech repertoire, as indeed, the libretto would remain little more than a sentimental tale. The music is not only drawing abundantly on the nation´s folklore, it also includes choruses and dances that give the opera irresistible character, gaiety and liveliness. The Ouverture is  a masterpiece of orchestral virtuosity, which together with the wonderful Smetana piece The Moldau, a favourite conductors work.

In the philosophy of existence it proclaims, the Czechs saw something other than a mere entertainment – a source of force and energy that comforted them during the difficult moments of their history.

Valérie Condoluci (Esmeralda) the comediants and orchestra, foto Franck Ferville,

The Bartered Bride was first performed at the Prague National Theatre on May 30th 1866, and for the first time presented at the Paris Opera in 2008 in the prodution which is being shown to day, intelligently and charming staged by Gilbert Deflo. 9 performances are being played between 4 and 27 december 2010 at  Palais Garnier.

Fotos: Franck Ferville.