Martinů was first approached to compose an opera for the NBC Opera Theatre by the company's Artistic Director, the conductor Peter Herman Adler, and their executive producer, Samuel Chotzinoff. Martinů had already been contemplating setting Gogol's play to music, and his suggestion to Adler and Chotzinoff was readily accepted. Martinů commenced on writing both the music and the libretto. Although the NBC announced that they were mounting a new opera with music by Martinů, they refused to disclose to the press who the author of the libretto was prior to the premiere. Olin Downes of The New York Times described this lack of disclosure as a "dense secret". Of the libretto Downes stated, "The book is effective, funny without being cheap, and it preserves a folk quality with whatever modern colloquialisms are woven in. The simple flavor of the original is not lost." At its 1953 television premiere, The Marriage was a triumphant success. As usual with almost all of the NBC Opera Theatre productions, Chotzinoff served as producer and Adler served as music director/conductor. John Block directed the production, Otis Riggs designed the sets, and Liz Gillan designed the costumes. Downes wrote in his review that "The production was of an excellent quality in the 1840s Russian costumes and scenic designs, and in the admirable level of the singing and English Diction. The show was produced and directed by master hands, in a way that would have made a less interesting score, less well designed for television presentation, worth while." Downes further praised Martinů for his successful marriage of the music with the text, stating the work "has droll characterization, adroit instrumental commentary, and certain motival phrases that bind the beginning and the end of the opera amazingly together."
The opera is set in St. Petersburg at the start of the 19th century. Fyokla suggests the 29-year-old Agafya to Podkolyosin for a bride. Kokhkyarov encourages him. They find Agafya attended by three feeble suitors. Both Agafya and Podkolyosin are diffident, so Kokhkyarov does all the talking in persuading each of the other's merits, eventually even proposing on behalf of Podkolyosin. Agafya accepts, but while she is dressing for the marriage, which they have decided must be immediate, Podkolyosin escapes through the window.
