Cherevichki

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Cherevichki (The Slippers) also known as The Empress's Slippers, or The Little Shoes (Russian: Черевички, French: Les caprices d'Oxane) is an opera in 4 acts and 8 scenes (1885) by Peter Tchaikovsky.

Contents

[edit] Creation and performance history

The opera was composed between February and March 1885 at Maidanovo (Майданово). It is a revision of Tchaikovsky's earlier opera Vakula the Smith. Both versions were set to the libretto by Yakov Polonsky, after Nikolai Gogol's story Christmas Eve (Russian: Ночь перед Рождеством – Noch pered Rozhdestvom) that was intended for Alexander Serov, but, as a result of the death of the latter, remained unused. The additions and revisions for this second version were made by the composer and Nikolay Chayev.

The main thematic material of the second version of the opera is the same as in Vakula the Smith. The alterations were caused by a wish to help the opera "out of the river of oblivion" (letter by Tchaikovsky on March 4, 1885). The editing primarily simplified some elements of musical texture. The lyric sphere of opera was deepened by the introduction of a new aria inserted for Vakula: Slyshit li devitsa serdtse tvoe... (Who knows, my girl, if your heart can feel my pain...). But the addition of the song of the School Teacher and the verses of His Highness enrich the genre part of the opera. Tchaikovsky also changed the cast of the chorus scenes, as in No. 13 (Kolyadka).

The opera was first performed in Moscow, at the Bolshoi Theatre on January 31 [OS January 19] 1887, conducted by Pyotr Tchaikovsky,

[edit] Roles

First performance, Moscow, Bolshoi Theatre, 1887

Pyotr Tchaikovsky, conductor
A. I. Bartsal, stage director
K. F. Valts, decoration set, costumes
Vakula [Вакула] tenor Dmitri Usatov (Дмитрий Усатов)
Solokha, his mother (witch) [Солоха] mezzo-soprano A. V. Svyatlovskaya
Chub, the old Cossack [Чуб] 1st bass I. V. Matchinky
Oksana, his daughter [Оксана] soprano Maria Klimentova-Muromtseva [Мария Климентова-Mуромцева]
Devil [Бес] (1st bass); 1st bass Bogomir Korsov
Schoolmaster [Школьный учитель] tenor Alexander Dodonov
Pan Golova [Пан Голова] (2nd bass); 2nd bass V. S. Streletsky
Panas [Панас] 2nd tenor P. N. Grigoriev
His Highness [Светлейший] 2nd bass P. A. Khokhlov
Master of Ceremonies [Церемониймейстер] 2nd bass R. V. Vasilevsky
Attendant [Дежурный] 2nd tenor
Old Cossack [Старый запорожец] 2nd bass
Wood Goblin [Голос лешего] (2nd bass) 2nd bass
People SATB chorus.

[edit] Scoring

The work is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (one in B-flat, one in A), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (all in F), 2 trumpets (one in F, one in E), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, harp, violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, double basses and a wind band (offstage).

Some numbers were also arranged for voices with piano or for piano duet (4 hands) by Tchaikovsky in 1885.

[edit] Synopsis

  • Act I: The widow Solokha agrees to help the Devil steal the moon. The Devil is annoyed with Solokha's son Vakula who painted an icon mocking him. The Devil decides to create a snowstorm to prevent Vakula from seeing his beloved Oxana. While the storm rages, Solokha rides up to the sky and steals the moon, while Oxana's father Chub and the Deacon are unable to find their way. Oxana is alone and lonely at home. She passes through several moods and the music follows her with gradually accelerating tempos. At one point, Vakula enters and watches her admiring herself. She teases him, and he says he loves her. Chub comes back out of the storm, and Vakula, not recognizing him, chases him out by striking him. Seeing what he has done, Oxana sends Vakula away in a miserable state. Young people from the village come around singing Ukrainian Christmas carols. Oxana realizes she still loves Vakula.
  • Act II: In a peculiar and amusing first scene three men and the Devil wind up in three sacks at Solokha's hut after successively trying to seduce her, and Vakula winds up hauling the heavy sacks away. Outside three groups of carollers contend. Oxana shames Vakula into getting her the Tsaritsa's boots or else she won't marry him. He runs threatening suicide, leaving two bags which turn out to have the Deacon and Chub.
  • Act III: A forest sprite warns water nymphs that Vakula is coming and that he wants to commit suicide. The Devil jumps out of Vakula's sack and tries to get his soul in exchange for Oxana but Vakula instead climbs on the Devil's back. Vakula forces the Devil to take him to St. Petersburg. The Devil puts down Vakula in the tsaritsa's court and disappears into the fireplace. Vakula joins a group of cossacks who are going to see the tsaritsa. In the hall of columns, a chorus sings the tsaritsa's praises, a polonaise. Vakula requests the tsaritsa's boots in a minuet, and it is granted because it is an unusual and amusing thing to ask. The Devil takes Vakula away as Russian and Cossack dances commence.
  • Act IV: The Act opens in the town square on a bright Christmas morning. Solokha and Oxana think Vakula has drown himself and mourn for him. Oxana runs off weeping when villagers invite her to the Christmas feast. Vakula returns with the boots, asks Chub to forgive him for the beating and asks for Oxana's hand in marriage. She enters, tells Vakula that she wants him, not the silly boots. Chub calls for the kobzari (the lutenists), and everyone celebrates.

[edit] Structure

  • Overture.
  • Act I – Scene & Duet (No. 1); Snowstorm (No. 2); Oksana's Aria (No. 3); Scene (No. 4); Vakula's Arioso (No. 4a); Scene (No. 5); Scene & Duet (No. 6); Closing Scene (No. 7).
  • Act II – Entr'acte; Scene: Solokha with the Devil (No. 8); Scene: Solokha with the Mayor (No. 9); Scene & Schoolmaster's Song (No. 10); Scene: Solokha with Chub (No. 11); Quintet (No. 11a); Vakula's Arioso (No. 12); Choral Scene (No. 13); Scene & Cherevichki Song (No. 14); Finale (No. 15).
  • Act III – Entr'acte; Chorus of Rusalka's (No. 16); Scene & Vakula's Song (No. 17); Scene (No. 18); Polonaise (No. 19); His Highness's Couplets (No. 20); Minuet & Scene (No. 21); Russian Dance (No. 22a); Cossack Dance (No. 22b); Scene (No. 23).
  • Act IV – Duet: Solokha with Oksana (No. 24); Finale (No. 25).

[edit] Recordings

Cherevichki - CD album cover, Aquarius
Enlarge
Cherevichki - CD album cover, Aquarius
Label: Aquarius AQVR 176-2, Issued 2003
Vakula, a blacksmith – G. Nelepp, tenor
Solokha, Vakula’s mother, a witch – E. Antonova, mezzo-soprano
A devil from the stove – Al. Ivanov, baritone
Chub, an elderly Cossack – M. Mikhailov, bass
Oksana, Chub’s daughter – E. Kruglikova, soprano
Pan Golova, the village head – S. Krasnovsky, bass
Panas – F. Godovkin, tenor
Deacon – A. Peregudov, tenor
His Highness – An. Ivanov, baritone
Catherine II – O. Insarova, mezzo-soprano
Master of ceremonies – I. Ionov, bass
Sentry – V. Shvetsov, tenor
An old Zaporozhian Cossack – I. Sipaev, bass
Forest sprite (Leshiy) – M. Skazin, baritone
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR
Conductor: A. Melik-Pashayev
Recorded in 1948

CD 1

1. Overture

Act I, Scene One

2. No. 1 Scene and Duet (Solokha, Devil)
3. No. 2 Snowstorm

Scene Two

4. No. 3 Aria (Oksana)
5. No. 4 Scene and Arioso (Oksana, Vakula)
6. No. 5 Scene (Oksana, Chub, Vakula)
7. No. 6 Scene and Duet (Vakula, Oksana)
8. No. 7 Final Scene (Oksana, Vakula, Choir)

Act II, Scene One

9. Entr’acte
10. No. 8 Scene (Solokha, Devil)
11. No. 9 Scene (Pan Golova, Solokha)
12. No. 10 Scene (Deacon, Solokha)
13. No. 11 Scene and Quintet (Chub, Solokha, Vakula, Deacon, Devil)
14. No. 12 Arioso (Vakula)

CD 2

Scene Two

1. No. 13 Choir Scene
2. No. 14 Scene and Song
3. No. 15 Final (Oksana, Vakula, Chub, Choir)

Act III, Scene One

4. Entr’acte
5. No. 16 Choir Scene
6. No. 17 and Song (Vakula, Devil)

Scene Two

7. No. 18 Scene (Devil, Vakula, an Old Zaporozhian Cossack, Choir)

Scene Three

8. No. 19 (Vakula, Master of Ceremonies, His Highness, Choir)
9. No. 20 Couplets (His Highness, Choir)
10. No. 21 Minuet and Scene (Vakula, Catherine II, His Highness, Choir)
11. No. 22 Russian dance and Cossack dance
12. No. 23 Scene (Master of Ceremonies, Devil, Vakula

Act IV

13. No. 24 Duet (Solokha, Oksana)
14. No. 25 Final (Oksana, Chub, Pan Golova, Panas, Solokha, Vakula, Choir)

Listen to the tracks


Cherevichki - CD album cover, Dynamic
Enlarge
Cherevichki - CD album cover, Dynamic
Label: Dynamic CDS 287
Recorded and issued 2000
Total duration 173 min

Performers:

Fabio Bonavita (Baritone)
Pavel Cernoch (Tenor)
Ekaterina Morosova (Soprano)
Vladimir Ognovenko (Bass)
Vladimir Okenko (Tenor)
Grigory Osipov (Bass-Baritone)
Valeri Popov (Tenor)
Valentin Prolat (Tenor)
Albert Schagidullin (Baritone; Bass)
Ludmila Semciuk (Mezzo-Soprano)
Barseg Tumanyan (Bass)
Frantisek Zahradnicek (Bass)
Ensembles and Conductors: Cagliari Theater Chorus (Conducted by: Gennady Rozhdestvensky)

CD1 58'43"

Overture 11'39"
Ah, how silvery the moon shines (Solokha) 08'24"
She"s got really warmed up (Devil) 09'28"
Just look at the snowstorm (Oksana) 01'59"
A little apple tree was blossoming in the garden (Oksana) 06'27"
She never takes her eyes off herself (Vakula) 06'23"
Look at the way you are! (Oksana) 01'41"
What"s all this noise? (Oksana) 06'23"
If only people were a bit more intelligent (Oksana) 06'14"

CD 2 48'34"

Intermezzo 01'34"
The storm has swept my broomstick away (Solokha) 05'55"
Now that"s what I call now (Golova) 03'26"
Is anyone in? (Schoolmaster) 03'00"
A woman runs after the devil (Schoolmaster) 04'08"
Greetings! (Chub) 02'32"
I don"t feel well... (Schoolmaster) 08'37"
A year has gone by... (Vakula) 03'31
Good evening! (Chorus) 06'09"
Oksana, why are you so late? (Chorus) 07'21"
My shoes aren"t very big (Oksana) 03'19"
Ah, Vakula, you"re here again (Oksana) 05'56"

CD 3 67'29"

Intermezzo 02'50"
It is dark, too dark (Chorus of Undines) 04'33"
Where have I come to? (Vakula) 01'09"
Who knows, my girl, if your heart can feel my pain (Vakula's "inserted" aria) 06'26"
We are there (Devil) 09'52"
Before we start the dances (His Serene Highness) 06'30"
Did you have a good journey? (His Serene Highness) 03'40"
Russian dance 04'43"
Cossack dance 03'21"
In the Czarina"s family theatre (Master of Ceremonies) 02'43"
Some say he threw himself into the river! (Solokha) 04'52"
We invite you to our house (Chorus of women) 03'09"
If you want to drink honey (Chorus) 07'07"
Strong winds, do not blow in the thick woods (Chorus) 06'27"

Listen to the tracks

[edit] External links

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