- Hans Weber
- March 27, 2025
Premiere of The Sold Bride in Prague Hlahol
On the 14th. 2. 2024 a press conference was held in the Grand Concert Hall of Prague’s Hlahol
to the premiere of The Sold Bride by Opera to the People.
The press conference brought the activities of the Czech Singing Institute and the Opera Project closer to the people. The organizers talked about the past year, when they presented a chamber production of Dvorak’s Rusalka, they outlined preparations for a new production of The Sold Bride. They talked about connecting with Prague Hlahol and the joy brought by the connection of Czech opera with this unique space. Media representatives were told the premiere cast – Tereza Mátlová (Gretel), Daniel Hůlka (Kecal), Peter Berger (Shawn), Peter Malý (Vasek), Dana Šťastná (Esmeralda), Vladimir Chmelo (Krushina), Markéta Dvorak (Krushina), Kateřina Jalovcová (Háta) and others. Also announced was the participation of the Singers’ Association Hlahol in the premiere of The Sold Bride on March 6, 2024 – the members of the Singers’ Association will be seated among the audience and the choral numbers will thus have an unconventional atmosphere.
For his part, Daniel The Wand declared: “I always said I’d be back at the opera at the age of 50. I came to Vlad Hop after 30 years of singing on a microphone to teach me how to sing. I admire his patience because he really taught me. We’ve had several years of intensive work. The second person who makes my professional dreams come true is my wife, Barborka, because the organization of the opera project’s performance sits largely on top of her. And the third person fulfilling my opera dream is Mrs. Eva Rychlíková, mayor of Hlahol, who allowed us to perform our operas in this beautiful place.In Hybernia we experienced beautiful performances of Rusalka, but the space was very commercial for us. Our projects just weren’t right for Hybernie. I kept digging into everyone that we had to get out of Hybernie. Everyone told me: Then tell me where! I thought for a long time, and then a redeeming thought occurred to me – Hlahol. This is where I actually started at the conservatory, first as a chorus boy under Mr. Shults, later as a soloist. I’m 55 years old, I think the time has come to break free from the roles of romantic heroes. I’m totally in love with the role of Kecal, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
On her role, Tereza Mátlova said: “I’m very glad that our beautiful Rusalka ran last year. I was offered the role of Rusalka years ago, and I turned it down at the time because I didn’t feel like it. But I came to the role and understood it, so I was pleased that an offer came from the North Bohemian Theatre and later from the Opera to the people. The role of Rusalka became very close to my heart and came at the right time. I feel that it will obviously, unexpectedly, be my fatal role, because – I don’t want to jinx it – but I should also be portraying her on a foreign stage next year. All in good time, I’m very happy that I was able to work the role of Rusalka perfectly with Vlad Chmel and fully understand it. I have considered the role of Gretel several times, there has been an offer for her in the past, but I also feel that the time is right now. I am so glad that I was able to portray Gretel on a concert semi-scenic tour in Japan with The Janáček Philharmonic and I am now very much looking forward to The Sold Bride in Prague Hlahol.”
JK
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