Undina (Tchaikovsky)
Encyclopedia
Undina is an opera
in 3 acts by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
. The work was composed in 1869. The libretto
was written by Vladimir Sollogub, and is based on Vasily Zhukovsky
's translation of Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
's Ondine
.
The opera was composed during the months of January to July, 1869, but Tchaikovsky destroyed the score in 1873, preserving only a few numbers from the opera. The opera has never been performed in its entirety.
The only extracts that survive are:
At least three of these pieces - the aria, the duet, and the final chorus - were performed at the Moscow premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre
in Moscow
on 28 March 1870.
Some music from the opera was subsequently re-used in Tchaikovsky's other works:
Place: Germany
, near the Danube
; Ringstetten Castle (Burg Ringstetten)
Vocal Numbers
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 3 acts 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"...
. The work was composed in 1869. The 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...
was written by Vladimir Sollogub, and is based on Vasily Zhukovsky
Vasily Zhukovsky
Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky was the foremost Russian poet of the 1810s and a leading figure in Russian literature in the first half of the 19th century...
's translation of Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte, Baron Fouqué was a German writer of the romantic style.-Biography:He was born at Brandenburg an der Havel, of a family of French Huguenot origin, as evidenced in his family name...
's Ondine
Undine (novella)
Undine is a novel by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué in which Undine, a water spirit, marries a knight named Huldebrand in order to gain a soul. It is an early German romance, which has been translated into English and other languages...
.
The opera was composed during the months of January to July, 1869, but Tchaikovsky destroyed the score in 1873, preserving only a few numbers from the opera. The opera has never been performed in its entirety.
The only extracts that survive are:
- Introduction
- Aria: "Waterfall, my uncle, streamlet, my brother" (Undina)
- Chorus: "Help, help! Our stream is raging"
- Duet: "O happiness, O blessed moment" (Undina, Huldbrand)
- Chorus: "O hours of death" (soloists, chorus)
At least three of these pieces - the aria, the duet, and the final chorus - were performed at the Moscow premiere 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...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
on 28 March 1870.
Some music from the opera was subsequently re-used in Tchaikovsky's other works:
- The bridal procession of Act 3 was adapted for the Andantino marziale of his Symphony No. 2 "Little Russian"Symphony No. 2 (Tchaikovsky)Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed his Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 in 1872. One of Tchaikovsky's very joyous compositions, it was successful upon its premiere; it also won the favor of the group of nationalistic Russian composers known as "The Five", led by Mily Balakirev...
(1872). - The introduction was used unchanged as the introduction to his incidental musicIncidental musicIncidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
to Ostrovsky's The Snow Maiden (1873). - Undina's aria was somewhat altered and put to use as the first song of Lel in The Snow Maiden.
- The duet was recycled as the duet (No. 13-V) of Siegfried and Odette in Act 2 of Swan LakeSwan LakeSwan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
(1875–1876). The vocal parts were replaced by solo cello and violin.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast March 28 [OS March 16], 1870 (Conductor: Eduard Merten) |
|---|---|---|
| Goldmann, an old fisherman | bass | |
| Bertha, his wife | 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... |
|
| Undina, their adopted 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... |
A. Alexandrova-Kochetova |
| Huldbrand, a knight | 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... |
Aleksandr Dodonov Alexander Dodonov Alexander Mikhailovich Dodonov was a Russian opera singer. Vocally, he is best described as a lyrical and dramatic tenor.... |
| The Duke | bass | |
| Berthalda, the Duke's daughter | mezzo-soprano | |
| Chorus, silent roles: People | ||
Instrumentation
Source: www.tchaikovsky-research.net- Strings: Violins, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
- Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets ( B-flat), 2 Bassoons
- Brass: 4 Horns (all F), 2 Trumpets (B-flat), 2 Trombones, Tuba
- Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Bass Drum
- Other: Harp, Piano
Synopsis
Time: The 15th centuryPlace: Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, near the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
; Ringstetten Castle (Burg Ringstetten)
Recordings
Introduction- Gauk, USSR Radio Large Symphony Orchestra
Vocal Numbers
- Akulov, USSR TV and Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milashkina, Raikov