The Oprichnik (opera)
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The Oprichnik or The Guardsman (Russian: Опричник – Oprichnik) is an opera in 4 acts and 5 scenes by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) to his own libretto after the tragedy "The Oprichniks" (Russian: Опричники) by Ivan Lazhechnikov (1792 – 1869).
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[edit] Creation and performance history
The opera is about the oprichniks, ,and is set in Ivan the Terrible's court during the oprichina times (1565-1573).
Tchaikovsky worked on the opera from February 1870 - March 1872. It includes music from his early opera The Voevoda (1869).
[edit] Dedication
It is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov.
[edit] Premiere
It was first performed on April 24 [OS April 12] 1874, at the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg. The performance was conducted by Eduard Nápravník.
[edit] Roles
| First performance, 1874, St Petersburg, Mariinsky Theatre Eduard Nápravník, conductor |
||
|---|---|---|
| Prince Zhemchuzhnyi (Князь Жемчужный) | bass | V. I. Vasiliev (В. И. Васильев) |
| Natalia (Наталья) his daughter | soprano | V. I. Raab (В. И. Рааб) |
| Molchan Mitkov (Молчан Митьков) the bridegroom of Natalia | bass | V. F. Sobolev (В. Ф. Соболев) |
| Boiarynia Morozova (Боярына Морозова), the widow | mezzo-soprano | A. P. Krutikova (А. П. Крутикова) |
| Andrei Morozov (Андрей Морозов) her son | tenor | D. A. Orlov (Д. А. Орлов) |
| Basmanov (Басманов) young oprichnik | contralto | V. M. Vasiliev (В. М. Васильев) |
| Prince Viaz´minskii (Князь Вязьминский) | baritone | I. A. Melnikov (И. А. Мельников) |
| Zakhar´evna (Захарьевна) | soprano | O. E. Shreder (О. Э. Шредер) |
The work also requires a typical SATB chorus.
[edit] Scoring
The opera is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (1 in B-flat, 1 in A), 2 bassoons, 4 horns ( in F), 2 trumpets (in D, F, and C), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbals, bass drum, harp, violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses.
- Some numbers were also arranged for voices with piano accompaniment by Tchaikovsky in 1873.
- In 1877 Tchaikovsky wrote a Funeral March based on themes from the opera for piano duet (now lost).
[edit] Structure
- Introduction.
- Act I
- Scene (No. 1);
- Chorus of Maidens (No. 2);
- Natalia's Song (No. 2a);
- Scene & Chorus (No. 3);
- Scene & Chorus (No. 4);
- Recitatives (No. 5);
- Basmanov's Arioso (No. 5a);
- Natalia's Arioso (No. 6);
- Chorus of Maidens (No. 6a).
- Act II - Entr'acte;
- Scene & Morozova's Aria (No. 7);
- Scena & Duet (No. 8);
- Prelude, Scene & Finale (No. 9);
- Prince Viazminskii's Aria (No. 9a);
- Andrei's Aria (No. 9b).
- Act III - Entr'acte;
- Chorus of People (No. 10);
- Recitatives, Chorus of Boys & Duet (No. 11);
- Scene (No. 12);
- Natalia's Arioso (No. 12a);
- Finale (No. 13).
- Act IV
- Wedding Chorus (No. 14);
- Dances of Oprichniks & Women (No. 15);
- Recitatives, Chorus & Duet (No. 16);
- Chorus & Scena (No. 17);
- Scena & Quartet (No. 18);
- Closing Scena (No. 19).
- The entr'acte to Act II was written and scored by Vladimir Shilovsky.
[edit] CDs
- Tchaikovsky: Oprichnik, 1980 Melodiya recording with
- E. Vladimriov,
- T. Milichkina,
- L. Nikitina,
- V. Matorine,
- L. Kouznetsov,
- R. Kotov,
- O. Klionov;
- Chorus and orchestra of the Central Television and Radio of the USSR; conducted by Gennady Provatorov.
Melodiya on C 01527-34. Chant du Monde box LDX 78002.
- Tchaikovsky: Oprichnik / Rozhdestvensky, Savenko / Ulianov, etc. CD
- Label: Dynamic CDU 6658897 Stereo
- 3 Discs
- Date: Jan 27, 2004
- Vassily Savenko (Bass)
- Vsevolod Grivnov (Tenor)
- Alexandra Durseneva (Alto)
- Vladimir Ognovenko (Baritone)
- Cinzia De Mola (Soprano)
- Dmitri Ulianov (Bass)
- Irina Doljenko (Mezzo Soprano)
- Elena Lassoskaya (Soprano)
Cagliari Theater Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, conductor
