The Bartered Bride ambitious parents and a scheming marriage broker. The opera was not immediately successful, and was revised and extended in the following four years. In its final version, premiered in 1870, it rapidly gained popularity and eventually became a worldwide success. Czech national opera until this time had been represented only by minor, rarely performed works. This opera, Smetana's second, was part of his quest to create a truly Czech operatic genre. Smetana's musical treatment made considerable use of traditional Bohemian dance forms such as the polka and furiant, and although he largely avoided the direct quotation of folksong he nevertheless
Otakar Mařák in "The Bartered Bride", "Dalibor", Ladislav Podhajský in "The Two Widows", Lucas in "The Kiss" as well as in traditional world repertory which saw Mařák play Don Ottavio in "Don Giovanni", Massenet's "Werther", Cavaradossi in "Tosca" and Alfred Germont in "La Traviata". He often took on the role of Don José in Bizet's "Carmen". He died on 2 July 1939 in Prague. Together with Emmy Destinn and Karel Burian, Mařák completed the trio of well-known early 20th century Czech singers. "This article is based on a in the Czech Wikipedia" Otakar Mařák Otakar Mařák (5 January 1872 Esztergom, Hungary –