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The Oprichnik (opera)
Encyclopedia
The Oprichnik or The Guardsman is an opera
in 4 acts, 5 scenes, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840–1893) to his own libretto
after the tragedy The Oprichniks by Ivan Lazhechnikov
(1792–1869). The subject of the opera is the oprichnik
s. It is set in Ivan the Terrible's court during the oprichnina
times (1565–1573).
Tchaikovsky worked on the opera from February 1870 - March 1872. It includes music from his early opera The Voyevoda (1869). The work is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich Romanov
. It was given its premiere performance at the Mariinsky Theatre
in St Petersburg on 24 April 1874, followed by the Moscow premiere on 16 May 1874 at the Bolshoi Theatre
.
Note: The entr'acte to Act II was written and scored by Vladimir Shilovsky.http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/en/Works/Operas/TH003/index.html
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in 4 acts, 5 scenes, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
(1840–1893) to his own libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
after the tragedy The Oprichniks by Ivan Lazhechnikov
Ivan Lazhechnikov
Ivan Ivanovich Lazhechnikov , September 25, 1792 – July 8, 1869, was a Russian writer.-Biography:Lazhechnikov was born into the family of a rich merchant in Kolomna in 1792. He received a well-rounded education from private tutors at home...
(1792–1869). The subject of the opera is the oprichnik
Oprichnik
An oprichnik was a member of an organization established by Tsar Ivan the Terrible to govern the division of Russia known as the Oprichnina ....
s. It is set in Ivan the Terrible's court during the oprichnina
Oprichnina
The oprichnina is the period of Russian history between Tsar Ivan the Terrible's 1565 initiation and his 1572 disbanding of a domestic policy of secret police, mass repressions, public executions, and confiscation of land from Russian aristocrats...
times (1565–1573).
Tchaikovsky worked on the opera from February 1870 - March 1872. It includes music from his early opera The Voyevoda (1869). The work is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich Romanov
Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia
Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia was the second son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.During the reign of his brother Alexander II, Konstantin was an admiral of the Russian fleet and reformed the Russian Navy. He was also an instrumental figure in the emancipation of the serfs...
. It was given its premiere performance at the Mariinsky Theatre
Mariinsky Theatre
The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
in St Petersburg on 24 April 1874, followed by the Moscow premiere on 16 May 1874 at the Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, St. Petersburg 24 April (12 April O.S.) 1874 (Conductor: Eduard Nápravník Eduard Nápravník Eduard Francevič Nápravník was a Czech conductor and composer, who settled in Russia and is best known for his leading role in Russian musical life as the principal conductor of the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg for many decades... ) |
Premiere cast, Moscow 16 May (4 May O.S.) 1874 (Conductor: Eduard Merton) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Zhemchuzhnïy | bass | Vladimir Vasilyev | Demidov |
| Natalya, his daughter | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Wilhelmina Raab | Smelskaya |
| Molchan Mitkov, the bridegroom of Natalya | bass | V. F. Sobolev | |
| Boyarïnya Morozova, the widow | mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... |
Aleksandra Krutikova | Kadmina |
| Andrey Morozov, her son | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
D. A. Orlov | Aleksandr Dodonov Alexander Dodonov Alexander Mikhailovich Dodonov was a Russian opera singer. Vocally, he is best described as a lyrical and dramatic tenor.... |
| Basmanov, a young oprichnik | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
V. M. Vasilyev | Aristova |
| Prince Vyazminsky | baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or... |
Ivan Melnikov | Radonezhsky |
| Zakharyevna | soprano | Olga Shreder (Schröder) | |
| Chorus, silent roles: People | |||
Instrumentation
Source: www.tchaikovsky-research.net- Strings: Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
- Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (1 in B-flat, 1 in A), 2 bassoons
- Brass: 4 Horns ( in F), 2 Trumpets (in D, F, and C), 3 Trombones, Tuba
- Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Bass Drum
- Other: Harp
Synopsis
- Introduction.
Act 1
- No. 1 — Scena
- No. 2 — Chorus of Maidens
- No. 2a – Natalya's Song
- No. 3 — Scena & Chorus
- No. 4 — Scena & Chorus
- No. 5 — Recitatives
- No. 5a – Basmanov's Arioso
- No. 6 — Natalya's Arioso
- No. 6a – Chorus of Maidens
Act 2
Entr'acte- No. 7 — Scena & Morozova's Aria
- No. 8 — Scena & Duet
- No. 9 — Prelude, Scena & Finale
- No. 9a – Prince Vyazminsky's Aria
- No. 9b – Andrey's Aria
Act 3
Entr'acte- No. 10 - Chorus of People
- No. 11 - Recitatives, Chorus of Boys & Duet
- No. 12 - Scena
- No. 12a-Natalya's Arioso
- No. 13 - Finale
Act 4
- No. 14 - Wedding Chorus
- No. 15 - Dances of Oprichniks & Women
- No. 16 - Recitatives, Chorus & Duet
- No. 17 - Chorus & Scena
- No. 18 - Scena & Quartet
- No. 19 - Closing Scena
Note: The entr'acte to Act II was written and scored by Vladimir Shilovsky.http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/en/Works/Operas/TH003/index.html
Derived works
Arrangements by the composer- Numbers from the opera for voices with piano accompaniment (1873)
- Funeral March on Themes from the Opera The Oprichnik (1877, lost)
Recordings
- 1980, Vladimirov, Milichkina, Nikitina, Matorin, Kuznetsov, Kotov, Klyonov. Gennady ProvatorovGennady ProvatorovGennady Provatorov was a Russian conductor.Gennady Provatorov was invited to Minsk when he was nearly 60 to worked at the Minsk Philharmonic and National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus...
(conductor), Chorus and Orchestra of the Central Television and Radio of the USSR. - 2004, Vassily Savenko (Prince Zhemchuzhny), Elena Lassoskaya (Natalia), Dmitri Ulyanov (Molchan Mitkov), Irina Dolyenko (Boyarina Morozova), Vsevolod Grivnov (Andrei Morozov), Alexandra Dursseneva (Basmanov), Vladimir Ognovienko (Prince Vyazminsky), Cinzia de Mola (Zakharyevna) Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Gennady RozhdestvenskyGennady RozhdestvenskyGennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky is a Russian conductor.-Biography:Rozhdestvensky was born in Moscow. His parents were the noted conductor and pedagogue Nikolai Anosov and soprano Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya...
. Dynamic, reissued Brilliant.