Sung in English, Smetana's The Bartered Bride plays at South Hill Park in Bracknell 25–28 May.
Smetana’s score is a celebration of Czech culture: it is May Day in a little Czech village, which is preparing to celebrate the holiday with feasting, dancing and even a travelling circus. The spirited young village girl Marenka is determined to marry her lover Jenik, but her father is in debt to Micha, and has promised she will marry Micha’s son, the immature and foolish Vasek. Fortunately, Jenik has a secret of his own, but can he outwit the boastful and ridiculous marriage broker Kecal, and ensure that true love wins in the end?