The kiss that made history: Smetana’s The Kiss celebrates 150 years
When it premiered at Prague’s Provisional Theatre on 7 November 1876, The Kiss was greeted with great enthusiasm. By then, Bedřich Smetana had already lost his hearing completely, yet he went on to create a work that would become one of the most popular Czech operas. Inspired by a short story by Karolina Světlá, it brought to the stage the world of the Czech countryside, with its humour, love and stubbornness. A century and a half later, The Kiss remains Smetana’s second most frequently performed opera, after The Bartered Bride, and one of the symbols of Czech musical culture.
A single kiss that changed everything
At first glance, the story revolves around a minor disagreement between two people in love. Yet it gave rise to one of the most successful Czech operas of all time. The plot itself is surprisingly simple. A young man, Lukáš, wants to kiss his fiancée, Vendulka. She refuses, however, because she does not want to break a promise she made to her late mother. The misunderstanding leads to an argument, followed by a reconciliation that brings a series of humorous and touching moments. This simplicity is precisely what gives the opera its strength. It tells no tales of kings, heroes or great historical events, but focuses instead on ordinary people and their feelings.
The Czech countryside on the opera stage
The libretto was written by Eliška Krásnohorská, based on a short story of the same name by writer Karolina Světlá, who drew inspiration from the Podještědí region in northern Bohemia. The stage thus came to life with scenes of village celebrations, folk customs and relationships between neighbours.
This made The Kiss stand out from many European operas of the time. While other composers often looked to history or mythology for inspiration, Smetana turned his attention to the Czech countryside, creating lively theatre full of humour, lyricism and distinctive characters.
The music also naturally reflects the atmosphere of Czech folk songs without directly copying them. This gave the opera a familiar and accessible feel for Czech audiences.
An opera composed in silence
The success of The Kiss was all the more remarkable because it was written at a time when Bedřich Smetana had already become completely deaf. The composer lost his hearing in 1874, but continued working with extraordinary determination.
Some of his most important works were written after he lost his hearing. The premiere of The Kiss was therefore not only a major cultural event, but also a testament to the extraordinary strength and talent of a man who was able to compose music he could no longer hear himself.
The Prague audience greeted the new opera with enthusiasm. Among those attending was Crown Prince Rudolf, while contemporary critics praised Smetana for creating a work accessible to a wide audience without compromising on artistic quality.
From Prague to the world
Few operas manage to retain a place in the repertoire for a century and a half. The Kiss has done just that. It remains one of the most frequently performed operas in Czech theatres and, after The Bartered Bride, is Smetana’s second most frequently staged work.
It also found success abroad. By the end of the 19th century, it was being performed in German-speaking theatres, and later in Vienna, Berlin and Ljubljana. In the 20th century, it also reached audiences in Britain, the United States and other countries.
Although it has never achieved the same international standing as Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, The Kiss has appealed to audiences with its universal storyline. Love, misunderstanding, jealousy and reconciliation are themes that need no translation.
