The Long LineThe Long Line

Antonín Dvořák

The Cunning Peasant, B.67, op. 37

Opera

B. 67 Composed 1877 Stage

The Cunning Peasant (Czech: Šelma sedlák) is an opera by Antonín Dvořák. The Czech libretto is by Josef Otakar Veselý.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synopsis

The grounds of a palace
The girls of the village are celebrating May and the love it brings (Zavítal do kraje, zavítal máj), but Bětuška is sad. The chorus try to cheer her up with the hope of the Prince's arrival allowing her love to be fulfilled. Jeník arrives and asks Bětuška why she is sad. It is because her father wishes her to marry a richer man. The two embrace and sing of their hope that God will help their love (Ústa moje, miláčku). Martin, Veruna and Václav arrive as Jeník leaves. Martin tells Bětuška off for spending time with a tramp like Jeník when he has in mind a wealthier husband for her. Bětuška reaffirms her love for Jeník and Veruna supports her, but her father will have none of that. Václav tells her of all the gifts he can give her if she agrees to marry him instead. Bětuška refuses. Martin expresses his anger with her (Dobrá, jdi tedy k němu). The girls return to take Bětuška along with them to collect a bouquet for her to present to the Prince. Thinking they're alone, Václav and Martin discuss what to do. The former expresses frustration feeling that the whole village is mocking him. Martin reassures him that they are both clever Bohemian peasants, (Jsme čestí sedláci, they sing together). They will replace the ladder Jeník usually uses with a plank over a barrel of water. They will beat him after he falls in. However Veruna has been listening and she intends to warn the lovers of the trap.
The whole village turn out to greet the Prince and Princess. When Bětuška gives the Prince the bouquet, both he and Jean are struck by her beauty. Jean tries to pinch her and the jealous Berta complains. Martin and Václav approach the Prince to ask for his agreement to Václav marrying Bětuška. He replies that he will speak to Bětuška first and find out her wishes. When he does so, he says he will grant Jeník a farm and let Bětuška marry her instead, provided she visits the Prince alone at the summerhouse during the evening. Veruna has been listening again and comments to Bětuška about the Prince's lecherous intentions. Meanwhile, they see Jean approaching, strutting like a peacock. He asks Bětuška to leave a ladder outside her window for him. Veruna informs him that there will be a barrel he can climb onto instead. Berta arrives and tells Jean off. Veruna explains to the other two women about how the barrel is a trap. She also visits the Princess who will visit her husband in the summerhouse in the evening instead of Bětuška and give him a slap

Spring festivities are taking place complete with dancing, beer and a Maypole which a villager climbs to win a prize. As the Prince draws the celebrations to a close, various characters sing of their hopes to end up in Bětuška's arms, to humiliate other characters or, in Bětuška's own case, to end up in Jeník's arms (Kéž mi již zavitá blažená chvíle). Jeník and Bětuška wish each other goodnight (Rozlučme se, drahý (drahá), rozlučme se). She tells him of the Prince's intentions and they think of eloping. Martin sees the barrel into position while Václav feels guilt at what they are planning. Veruna directs the Princess and Berta, both disguised as Bětuška to their respective positions. Thinking he is seducing Bětuška, the Prince complains about how he is bored by his wife. The Princess takes the bond for the promised farm from him before slapping him. Meanwhile Jean tries to climb to Bětuška's window, where Berta is, and falls into the barrel. Martin and Václav rush out to beat him up, egged on by Berta. She and the Princess demand and receive repentance from the Prince and Jean. Everyone blames Martin for having such a beautiful daughter. The Prince instructs him to marry her to Jeník. Martin apologises to Václav who is sure that his wealth will help him find a wife elsewhere. The Prince gives Jeník the deeds to the farm and Martin promises a generous dowry. Everyone praises the Prince and Princess.

  1. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 10: Find Me a Man Who Will Put into Words
  2. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 11: There He Is, Now Do Go and Meet Him
  3. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 12: My, That Was Really Something
  4. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 13: You Scoundrel!
  5. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 14: How Uneasy and How Pained
  6. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 15: There Now - There She Is Still
  7. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 1: The Month of May Has Come
  8. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 2: So Deep in Though Again
  9. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 3: I Say, Bětuška, What´s That Supposed to Mean
  10. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 3: Very Well, Then, Leave Me for Him
  11. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 4: Oh, Veruna!
  12. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 5: What Is It Really Worth To Me, Sir
  13. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 6: The Prince Is Riding in a Carriage
  14. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 8: In Token of Our Loyalty and Affection
  15. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act I, Scene 9: Today, My Lad, Be a Man
  16. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 1: Cheer Up, Let´s Stretch Our Limbs
  17. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 1: I Cannot Wait to See That Moment of Delight
  18. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 1: There Stands the Maypole
  19. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 2: Good Night, My Dear
  20. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 3: Hurry up, lads!
  21. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 4: Do I Look Just like Bětuška?
  22. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 5: Hurry up Now, My Lad
  23. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 6: Oh, Night in May
  24. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 8: Call Her at Once
  25. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 8: No More Hesitation Now
  26. The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, B. 67, Act II, Scene 9: Is It True That We Now Belong to Each Other?
  27. Overture

Synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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