THE BARTERED BRIDE

29 May - 30 June 2019

In this story of thwarted love and arranged marriage, the spirited heroine, Mařenka, has to use every last ounce of determination, charm and cunning in order to marry the man she loves. This is a joyous celebration of Czech culture and identity, reimagined into the heart of the English countryside, above all represented by dance rhythms and deliriously infectious tunes. Dance is at the heart and soul of this piece, from the gloriously vibrant overture to a riotous and festive polka. There’s a circus, an escaped bear, heart-stopping love duets and a rousing drinking song. It’s an irresistible combination.

Natalya Romaniw (Eugene Onegin, 2016) returns as Mařenka with Paul Curran (Death in Venice, 2015) to direct; Jac van Steen (Pelléas et Mélisande, 2017) conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra.