[Met Performance] CID:98250



The Bartered Bride
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, February 1, 1928


In German



The Bartered Bride (34)
Bed?ich Smetana | Karel Sabina
Marenka
Maria M?ller

Jen?k
Rudolf Laubenthal

Vasek
George Meader

Kecal
Michael Bohnen

Ludmila
Ina Bourskaya

Krusina
George Cehanovsky

H?ta
Henriette Wakefield

Tobias
James Wolfe

Circus Barker
Max Bloch

Esmeralda
Ellen Dalossy

Red Indian
Arnold Gabor

Dance
Ruth Page

Dance
Muriel Halliday

Dance
Giuseppe Bonfiglio


Conductor
Artur Bodanzky


Director
Wilhelm Von Wymetal

Set Designer
Joseph Novak

Choreographer
August Berger

Choreographer
Ottokar Bartik





Translation by Kalbeck
The Bartered Bride received two performances this season.
The opera was billed as Die Verkaufte Braut (The Bartered Bride).

Review 1:

Review signed M. W. in the New York Tribune

'Bartered Bride' Revived at Metropolitan Opera

Bodanzky Gives Spirited Direction of Smetana's Opera; Miss Dalossy Scores

A late, but joyful re-entry into the season's repertoire of the Metropolitan Opera was accomplished last evening by Smetana's "The Bartered Bride" and, although the audience was not of record size, it was exceedingly content.

Since the auspicious revival of this excellent peasant opera in 1925-26 it has remained one of the freshest and most sparkling antidotes to the long and arid reaches of outward lyric drama which a season must inevitably include. Mr. Bodanzky seems to love the piece and he lent it last evening, as upon other occasions, the benefits of an eager and spirited baton.

The cast was, in two instances, changed from former years. Little Miss Hunter being employed farther up Broadway, her part of the sprightly Esmeralda was performed by Ellen Dalossy. Miss Dalossy obviously has lofty choreographic ambitions, but none to steady a head. The convolutions and reverses incidental to the part were more remarkable for their courage than their grace. She was nevertheless the hit of the scene. Ina Bourskaya, substituting for the indisposed Miss Telva, assumed the role of the mother Kathinka in a neatly adept characterization.

Of the others, Maria M?ller in the title role was charming and petulant and sweet-voiced. Mr. Laubenthal as the lover was, as before, a most complete and dapper portrait of the gay young peasant blood. The impersonations which walked away with the show however, were those of Kezal by Mr. Bohnen, and the stuttering simpleton, Wenzel, by Mr. Meader. Mr. Bohnen has overlaid his portrait with an elaboration of comic detail imitably diverting and valuable, with no possible facet of humor ignored and a certain rich and unoffending flavor of the soil. Mr. Meader's portrayal ranges in histrionic value, if not in kind, with his Mime and his David.

Incidental dances by the ballet featured the first appearance of Miss Ruth Page this year as solo dancer of the company.



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