The Kiss turns on the slenderest of ideas, the reluctance of Vendulka to affront the memory of her betrothed Lukas's deceased wife by accepting his kiss before their own wedding, and their eventual reconciliation. Yet although this was the first opera Smetana wrote after deafness descended on him, it proved one of his warmest and most appealing works, and the absence of much in the way of incident allows him to paint some of his most affecting portraits of simple but honest and good-hearted characters. Eva Depoltova makes a touching Vendulka, with her initial hesitations over the kiss made part of her truthfulness of nature, and her warmth coming strongly to the fore by the close; she sings the two lullabies affectingly. Leo Marian Vodicka has the ardour and impatience for Lukas, and can command both a fine impassioned ring in the higher register and shade his tone for the melancholy reflections; he and Vaclav Zitek do splendidly by their duet, as the gloomy bridegroom is reassured by his friend that all need not be lost if he comes to his senses and brings himself to ask forgiveness for his rough behaviour.
There are perceptive performances of the various minor characters who surround this little village drama. Martinka, Vendulka's old aunt, sounds firm and sensible rather than merely formidable in Libuse Marova's vigorous portrayal, and there is a touching contribution from Bozena Effenberkova, who makes the most of one of the opera's most popular numbers, the lively little song about the skylark. Karel Hanus adds a suitable touch of slightly eccentric comedy in the sub-plot about the smugglers. And there is Eduard Haken. He was 70 when this recording was made in 1980, but sounds in fine fettle as he presides with a good deal of grumpiness over the young lovers' betrothal and finally gives Lukas his somewhat tetchy blessing for the sake of a quiet life. Frantisek Vajnar supervises these events with affection for a score that invites the warmest affection. The recording is vivid and well-rounded, and the booklet includes text and translations into English, German and French. '