Bedrich Smetana

The Bartered Bride

The Bartered Bride (Czech: Prodaná nev??sta, The Sold Fiancée) is the second opera, a comedy in three acts, by Bedøich Smetana. The Czech libretto was written by Karel Sabina, who had also written the libretto for Brandenburgers in Bohemia. Composed in 1863 1866, the work was originally envisioned as an operetta, a light opera with spoken dialogue in place of sung recitatives.

It was first performed in this form in 1866 in Prague. The definitive version of the work, now an opera buffa, was finished in 1870 and was performed the same year. The opera's overture and three dances are part of the orchestral repertoire.