Bedřich Smetana's Opera "The Sold Bride" in the Logos of Music History

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study scientific research on the history of Bedřich Smetana's opera “The Bartered Bride”. The methodology of the work includes: source study – for the study of scientific literature and periodicals on the history of B. Smetana's opera “The Bartered Bride”; historical – to consider the opera at different times; generalising – for updating and specifying the basic information about the specified opera. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that the analysis of foreign scientific sources and periodicals on the subject of this opera was conducted for the first time. Conclusions. The relevance of the study of scientific literature and periodicals on the opera by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana is determined: the importance of Czech culture and musical art in Ukraine (V. Shchepakin, Yu. Zinko, S. Kalytko, A. Kravchuk, I. Pop); clarification of the authorship of the Ukrainian translation of the libretto of B. Smetana's opera “The Bartered Bride” and parallels with M. Lysenko's opera “Natalka Poltavka” (O. Smolnytska); criticism of the choreographic component in the opera from an archival source (T. Churpita). Coverage of the fate of the opera at different times: the popularity and inexhaustible source of Czech folklore (G. Palla, S. Bergmannova); emphasising the patriotism and progressiveness of B. Smetana’s work in comparison with other Czech composers (Z. Nějedla); the influence of F. Liszt and P. Cornelius on the idea of a national comic opera; the flourishing of national ideas and the activities of the C. H. Mahá circle, the reflection of ideas in the libretto of K. Sabina and its relevance to the Czech language (D. Tyrrell); criticism of the premiere performances (Josef Krejčí). Comparison of the comicism of W. A. Mozart's opera “The Marriage of Figaro” and B. Smetana's “The Bartered Bride” (G. Schenker) with an emphasis on heterogeneity, organic joy, simplicity, and charming naivety in the transfmission of content can be considered an open path to future popularity. The critic's remarks about the organic thematic development and orchestral perfection in Smetana's opera were available only to Mozart. Criticism of the contemporary opera performance directed by E. Nellis “The Bartered Bride” (G. Shpalkova).

Key words: musicology, logos of music history, criticism, comic opera, national opera, folk art, Bedřich Smetana's opera “The Bartered Bride”, libretto.