The prestigious French director, Laurent Pelly (Viva la Mamma, Falstaff or Il Turco in Italia) presents one of the most emblematic operas in the Czech operatic repertoire at the Teatro Real on 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30 April 2026. It is a fresh and humorous version of this story of romantic entanglements and rural traditions.
Set in a Czech village, it follows Mařenka, a young peasant girl who is in love with Jeník. However, in accordance with local customs, her parents have arranged for her to marry Vašek, the stuttering and somewhat naive son of a wealthy landowner. To avoid this forced marriage, Jeník devises a plan: he pretends to agree to sell his right to marry Mařenka for 300 florins, stipulating that she may only marry a son of Mícha, the landowner.
As Jeník is Mícha's son from a previous marriage, his ruse ensures that he will be Mařenka's legitimate husband. Although she initially feels betrayed, the truth comes out and love triumphs over social conventions.
The production celebrates Czech folk music and is a satire of the marriage practices of that time. This new production has been made jointly by the Lyon National Opera, the Oper Köln and the Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie in Brussels. Laurent Pelly, renowned for his ability to combine humour and social criticism, directs this version, with musical arrangements by Gustavo Gimeno, who will take over as Music Director of the Teatro Real as of September 2025.
Artistic File:
- Conductor - Gustavo Gimeno
- Stage Director and Wardrobe - Laurent Pelly
- Stage Design - Carolina Ginet
- Choirmaster - José Luis Basso
Cast:
- Krušina - Manel Esteve
- Ludmila - María Rey-Joly
- Mařenka - Svetlana Aksenova (14, 17, 20, 24, 28, 30 April) and Natalia Tanasii (16, 19, 23, 29 April)
- Micha - Toni Marsol
- Háta - Monica Bacelli
- Vašek - Mikeldi Atxalandabaso (14, 17, 20, 24, 28, 30 April) and Moisés Marín (16, 19, 23, 29 April)
- Jeník - Pavel Černoch (14, 17, 20, 24, 28, 30 April) and Sean Panikkar (16, 19, 23, 29 April)
- Kecal - Günther Groissböck (14, 17, 20, 24, 28, 30 April) and Martin Winkler (16, 19, 23, 29 April)
- Lead Comedian - Jaroslav Březina
- Esmeralda - Rocío Pérez
- Indio - Ihor Voievodin
- Orchestra and Choir - Teatro Real Resident Orchestra and Choir
Programme:
Comic Opera in Three Acts
- Music - Bedřich Smetana
- Libretto - Karel Sabina
- Production by the Lyon National Opera, the Oper Köln and the Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie in Brussels
