Exhibition: Bartered Bride - Czech Opera of Operas

Venue, date and time: Foyer of the national theatre, 28 September 20009, from 9 o'clock to 13 o'clock.

For visitors of the theatre the exhibition will be accessible during the theatre performance from 26 to 28 September..

The exhibition is situated in the main foyer of the National Theatre and it will offer visitors an opportunity to see original manuscripts and other valuable documents and objects that are not usually possible to be seen in exhibitions and which relate to the Smetana's most famous opera. In spite of the fact that the exhibition is not very extensive, the unique exhibition will present in music autographs the genesis of the Bartered Bride from its pencil draft, the definite score containing four versions of the opera of 1866-1870, up to the autograph of the piano score, whose the first printed edition of 1872 was also the first complete edition of the Czech opera that was ever published. The transcription of the Sabina's libretto with a censor's permit and numerous stokes and manuscript working notes, a selection of Smetana's diaries and other manuscripts related to the Bartered Bride and its performance on the stage of the Temporary Theatre will be also possible to be seen there.

As to the picture documents visitor will be able to see photographs of Bedřich Smetana taken in the time when he composed the opera and also photographs of other significant actors who played main roles in the Smetana's era in the Temporary Theatre as well as later period in the National Theatre. Also the oldest scenographic design for the National Theatre of 1881 will be displayed. The 100th performance of the opera in 1882, which was an extraordinary event not only for Smetana but also for the history of the Czech opera, will be pointed out as well. After an exceptional success of the opera in the International Music and Theatre Exhibition in Vienna in 1892, doors to foreign stages opened for the Bartered Bride and its position at home, where it played a role of an archetype of a national opera, was strengthened. Displayed documents will be accompanied by some object documenting popularity of this Smetana's opera, which gradually penetrated into other artistic spheres and also to everyday life in such an extent which have not been achieved in other cases.