Smetana and the librettist Karel Sabina masterfully mocked all those who expected the “national opera” to be an idyllic picture of the Czech countryside, with its inhabitants being virtuous and governed by high morals. The Bartered Bride is thus far more humorous than “national”. Nonetheless, its humour is precisely of the type Czechs so love, and hence Smetana’s opera, abounding in irony, scathing, occasionally even cynical, wit, as well as tenderness and simple joie de vivre, has ultimately become “national” in the best sense of the word ...

The Bartered Bride

National Theatre

And if we were to name the places at which Mozart in person premiered an opera of his and which still function as theatres, the one and only candidate in the world would be the Estates Theatre in Prague. The National Theatre Opera has proudly cherished this unique tradition for decades.

Don Giovanni

The Estates Theatre

The opening concert of The Prague Music Festival will traditionally take place at the end of October in the beautiful surroundings of the Rudolfinum. This year, Václav Hudeček invited tenor Daniel Matoušek, soprano Doubravka Novotná, violist Kristina Nouzovská Fialová and the Prague Philharmonia conducted by Ondřej Vrabec, to join him in performance.

Doubravka Novotná

Events

Upcoming events

Aug 27, 2026 - Jun 27, 2027

The Bartered Bride · Národní divadlo

Aug 28 - Nov 27, 2026

Don Giovanni · Národní divadlo

Oct 20, 2026

The Prague Music Festival: Ceremonial Opening of the 35th Season · Prague Philharmonia

Future and recently performed repertoire

Mařenka 2 in The Bartered Bride by Smetana

Národní divadlo

Zerlina in Don Giovanni by Mozart

Národní divadlo

About

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